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MANY INCIDENTS AND REMINISCENCES OF THE EARLY 
HISTORY OF WOOD COUNTY 



rOGETHER WITH SOME OF THE HISTORIC EVENTS OF THE 
MAUMEE VALLEY CONTAINED IN THIS 



PIONEER SCRAP-BOOK 



4AVE1BEEN COLLECTED FROM THE PAPERS AND MATERIAL OF THE 

LATE C W. EVERS AS GATHERED BY 

HIM FOR YEARS PAST 



"Lest We Forget 



BOWLING GREEN, O., 1910 






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PREFACE 



' I *HE purpose of this book is to preserve to the people of Wood county and the 
■*■ Maumee Valley some of the historic facts and interesting incidents of its 
early days and to present them in an entertaining and readable form. 

The plan of making it scrap-book-fashion originated with my father and an 
outline of the work had been arranged by him and left — an unfinished task. 

The further preparation and compilation was then entrusted to the trained 
hand of Mr. F. J. Oblinger, who has, with pains-taking care, from a mass of 
manuscript, notes, clippings and other material, condensed the gleanings of a liffe 
time into these pages. 

I am also under obligations to Mr. John E. Gunckel, of Toledo, for his kind- 
ness in permitting the use of a number of cuts from his "Early History of the 
Maumee Valley." 

The publication I have undertaken, personally, as a memorial to my father, 
from whose pen most of the articles have come. * Some are now in print for the 
first time, while others have appeared during his years of active newspaper 
work. 

My father's labors in this direction were purely out of love for the work. 
All history appealed to him, but the early struggles of Wood county pioneers was 
a chapter so replete with tragic interest, so tinged with romance, so filled with 
human endeavor and its achievement that it called forth his highest admiration. 

It seemed fitting, therefore, that the final effort of his life should have been 
a record of these events and with this thought in mind and the grateful encour- 
agement and friendly interest extended by his old associates, both personally and 
as members of the Pioneer and Historical societies, I have ventured to complete 
the work. MAY EVERS-ROSS. 

Bowling Green, 0., Nov. 17, 1909. 



OUR PIONEERS 



At a meeting of the Maumee Valley Pioneers some years since, Mrs. C. W. 
Evers wrote and read the following poem: 

All honor due ye, hoary heads. 

Assembled here to-day, 
A power higher than man's own 

Hath guarded your pathway; 
Else not one aged pioneer 

Would answer to the call 
Which brings the few remaining ones 

With each successive fall. 



Where swale and marshes yielded naught 

To energetic men, 
Are orchards now of choicest fruit 

And fields of golden grain. 
Not a cabin left which sheltered 

Our fathers brave and true; 
They've crumbled like their owners. 

And mansions rise to view. 



'Tis good to meet and here relate 

^The hardships each hath borne. 
You know of toils and sorrows pass'd 

O'er which none others mourn; 
You know when the rude little cabins 

Loomed up in the distance afar ; 
Each one brought joy to your household. 

For a neighbor, a friend would be there. 

'Mid joyful songs and stories 

Your evenings slowly waned, 
When the choppings, and the raisings. 

And the husbands all were gained. 
Think not that we would feign forget 

Your fearless courage tried. 
Nor less appreciate the boon 

Your efforts have supplied. 

Our eyes behold an Eden, 

Where once the forest stood. 
Where generations more than one 

Have wrestled with the wood. 
Where grew the bramble-bush and trees. 

Are lawns of velvet green. 
Imagination scarce can paint 

The changes there have been. 



Products alone are not her wealth — 

Our Pioneers have cause 
To justly feel a pride in those 

Who consecrate their laws. 
E'en from the swam^js came talent fair, 

And self-made men are here. 
Schooled in a little hut of logs, 

No college then was near. 

We oft bewail, declare our roads 

Are not quite smooth enough; 
Well, forty years ago to-day 

Wood county roads were rough. 
The farmer laid aside the wheels. 

And, mounted on his horse. 
Would ride for many weary miles 

To reach the old Court House. 

But now instead its dome appears, 

As centrally behest, 
P'rom seat of Justice speed the trains. 

North — South — yea, East and West. 
All nature smiles upon you now, 

God bless your later years ! 
The time will come, we'll call in vain 

For our dear Pioneers. 



WOOD COUNTY'S BIRTH 



Its Development from the Misty Past — Our Love for the Memory of Our 
Heroic Pioneers, Whose Splendid Results We Novv^ Enjoy 



"Gimme back the dear old days — the pathway through the dells 
To the schoolhouse in the blossoms; the sound of far-off bells 
Tinklin' 'crost the meadows; the song of the bird an' brook, 
The old-time dictionary an' the blue-l)ack spellin' book. 

"Gone, like a dream, forever — a city's hid the place 

Where stood the ol' log schoolhouse, an' no familiar face 

Is smilin' there in welcome beneath a mornin' sky — 

There's a bridge acrost the river, an' we've crossed an' said "good-by." 

— Atlanta Constitution. 



By Charles 

WHO is there who does not love to 
hear of their ancestors and their 
ancestral home, even if that home was ever 
so homely — nothing but a log cabin with 
a stick chimney? Even though the 
father and mother and grandparents, 
— long since passed away — were plain, 
every-day people, dressed in home-spun 
garb, yet our thoughts to our latest hour 
in life go back to the dear old home and 
to those dear old people with tonderest 
emotions. 

Heroic, were they? Ah, yes. We of 
Wood county may not deny that virtue 
to our ancestors. Go back if you will 
half or three-quarters of a century and 
view the wilderness landscape of swamp, 
plain and forest as they found it, in your 
worst vein of imagination and say if they 
who buffeted with those discouragements 
w^ere not untitled heroes. 

The Wood county of today has mucli 
to be proud of. We need no self-glori- 
iication, but our pride may justly go back 



^Y. Evers. 

to those pioneer ancestors who amid poV' 
erty, sickness and privation of every 
kind laid broad and enduring, the foun- 
dation of our present prosperity. 

It is the story of such as these — indi- 
viduals, communities and nations, to- 
gether with the land they inhabited 
which makes biography and history — two 
of the most interesting branches of hu- 
man knowledge. Wood county with its 
accumulation, tiirifty people and historic 
years, has an interesting contribution of 
this kind, now fast passing into oblivion, 
which if fittingly and truthfully told is 
well worthy a place in the annals of the 
nation. Much that belongs to and be- 
comes a part of our history occurred be- 
fore our land had a place marked in the 
Geographical Atlas. 

Our homes of today lay in the track of 
great events. The martial tread of 
armies, men upon whose valor the fate 
of the nation hung, disturbed the silent 
wastes of Wood long before she had so 



8 



THE PIONEER 



much as a name, and the forest echoes 
repeated the startling roar of the cannon 
which proclaimed that the final contest 
between Civilization and Barbarism was 
in deadly issue at her very threshold. 

The story of her early settlement and 
progress, while a fruitful theme for the 
chronicler's pen, will derive increased in- 
terest from a brief narration of some of 
this preceding outline history which has 
become a part of the written story of the 
nation. In this we are told that Wood 
county was a small fractional part of a 
vast extent of territory, of which the 
French were the first white claimants, 
basing their claim as other Europeans 
did on the right of discovery and con- 
quest. This nominal possession had ex- 
isted about one hundred years when, in 
1763, the English, who were also claim- 
ants of contiguous territory, dispossessed 
the French, after a bloody war, of all their 
lands in America. That twenty years 
later, in 1783, England, in turn, after a 
war of eight years, was forced to quit- 
claim all her possessions south of Can- 
ada to her own rebellious Colonists, who 
started a new Government of their own 
styled The United States of America. 

The open page of our history after this 
nominal ownership by these two most 
powerful and enlightened nations of 
Europe, for a period of one hundred and 
twenty years, was still a blank. No 
marks of civilization were left behind. 
Adventurous explorers and fur-traders 
had passed through the forests or by the 
river in expeditions to points beyond, 
but otherwise tliis land, since called 
Wood county, Avas nought but a vast 
game preserve for vagrant bands of In- 
dian hunters. 

But a change for the better is coming 
slowly. Civilization has set its course 
westward with relentless tread. War is 
sometimes a great educator. The vari- 
ous desultory expeditions in the west had 
been the means of promulgating wonder- 
ful stories in the east of the beautv and 



fertility of the western country, and 
shortly after the birth of the new Gov- 
ernment a vast tide of immigration was 
sweeping across tlie Alleghanies to the 
fertile region of the Ohio and its tribu- 
taries. 

It should be kept in mind that each of 
the civilized nations claiming any part of 
the country, held it always subject to the 
claims of the Indian tribes occupying it. 
There was this serious cloud on the title 
of all land in the west at that time. In 
the present boundaries of Ohio not less 
than thirteen tribes and bands laid claim 
to title. As will be readily foreseen the 
great inundation of white settlers into 
their fine hunting grounds soon aroused 
the jealousy and hostility of these tribes 
and stealthy murders and brutal, fiendish 
outrages on the whites soon followed. 
The Government, then under the wise ad- 
ministration of President Washington, 
had ohserved so far as possible a humane 
and pacific policy toward all the tribes 
and had spared no efforts to secure peace 
with them by treaty and purchase of 
their lands. But through the mischiev- 
ous advice and influence of British trad- 
ers, who were profiting by a lucrative 
traffic with the Indians, they insisted on 
the Ohio Eiver as the boundary between 
them and tJie whites, and no treaty which 
all the tribes would respect and sanc- 
tion could be made, only on this basis. 

Finally an army under Gen. Harmar 
was sent against them, but was defeated 
on the Maumee near where Fort Wayne I 
now is. Another army under Gen. St. 
Clair, then Governor of the Northwest 
Territory, was organized and sent against 
them. Again, the savages fell back, 
though by a more direct course toward 
the Maumee. Again the Americans 
met with overwhelming defeat and were 
routed with great slaughter and the bar- 
barous butchery of all their unfortunate 
wounded and prisoners, and the loss of 
all their cannon and military equipage. 

This po emboldened the Indians that 



Se'KAP-BOOK. 



9 



all the whites north oC the Ohio were 
compelled for safety to shut themselves 
up in forts and block-houses and from 
all sides came loud demands for strong 
and vigorous measures by the Govern- 
ment, which was far too slow and lenient 
in its policy to suit the distressed settlers. 

President Washington now sent for 
General Anthony \\'ayne, an old army 
associate of his in the Kevolution. 
Wayne, who was a resolute man of auda- 
cious courage, came on and organized his 
army and though assailed and opposed 
by every strategem o.f savage warfare, he 
marched to the Maumee, where on the 
northerly Ijank of the Maumee about two 
miles below the present townsite of Wa- 
terville, August 20, 1791, he met the 
confederated tribes and fragments of 
tribes of the ISTorthwest who had assem- 
bled their warriors to dispute his further 
-advance by the wager of battle. Wajme 
assailed them with his characteristic 
fury and impetuosity. The issue was 
not long in doubt. The Indians were 
•completely routed, many of their chiefs 
being killed, Avhile the rest, Avhen the bat- 
tle was over, were flying fugitives. They 
had been encouraged and assisted by the 
British, who had a fort, in violation of 
their treaty with the United States, just 
t)elow where Maumee is now. Some of the 
Indians fled there for protection but the 
gates were sluit against them. The Eng- 
lish commander liad douljtless a pretty 
wholesome respect for Wayne as a soldier 
and did not care to take any chances in 
provoking him to storm the fort and 
therefore prudently refused to give shel- 
ter to the fugitive savages. 

The Americans destroyed all corn- 
fields and Indian villages on their re- 
turn up the river, subsisting much of the 
time, especially while they were con- 
structing Fort Wayne and Defianc'\ on 
the corn and vegetable ])atches of the 
Indians. After garrisoning these forts 
"Wayne marched back to Fort Greenville, 
now in Darke countv, and left the tribes 



to ponder over the situation until spring 
to decide whether they would make peace 
or have more war. 

The effect of Wayne's victor}^ over the 
Indians cannot be correctly measured by 
the number of savages slain in battle. 
The campaign had convinced them of 
their inability to successfully make war 
on tlie whites. They had seen an army 
come among them led by a chief whom 
they could neither surprise nor defeat. 
They had seen the hollowness of the Eng- 
lish promises of help; when danger came 
they had seen the king's soldiers creep 
into their forts like ground hogs, and 
when the Indian went there for protec- 
tion the gate was shut in his face and he 
was left to the mercy of Wayne's victori- 
ous soldiers. They had seen their corn- 
fields laid waste, their villages burned 
and their women and children left des- 
titute for the winter and had seen five 
garrisoned forts placed in their country 
to enforce peace. There was a logic in 
all this that the Indian could under- 
stand. He saw that he must do one of 
three things, make peace, leave tlie coun- 
try, or be annihilated. 

British agents still endeavored to pre- 
vent a treaty, but hollow promises and 
fine talk did not allay the pangs of hua- 
ger and the pinching cold of winter; 
and the following year the basis of 
a treaty was made at Greenville, Darke 
county, on the 3d of August, 1795, by 
which the Indians relinquished all claim 
forever to more than three-fourths of 
Ohio, besides sixteen cessions of land, 
located from each other at great dis- 
tances, and distributed over an extensive 
area of wilderness country, the lands 
upon which are now established those 
great centers of commerce, Chicago, De- 
troit, Toledo and Fort Wayne, besides 
other distant posts, as Versailles and 
Mackinaw. This treaty was signed by 
the war chiefs of no less than twelve 
tribes of Indians. 

Then came treatv after treatv and 



10 



THE PIOXEER 



grant after grant during tlic years that 
followed — Treaty of Fort Industry, 
1805; at Detroit, 1807; at Brownstown, 
1808; treaty where Maumee now stands, 
in 1817, and one of the most important 
to the ]\Iaumee Valley; treaty at St. Marys, 
1818; treaty of Saginaw, 1819. One by 
one the different grants were extinguish- 
ed. The Delawares ceded their reserva- 
tions in 1829. The Wvandots ceded 



thf'ii-s Ijy a treaty made at Upper San- 
dusky, March 17, 1842. This was the 
last Indian treaty in Ohio — a state, says 
Henry Howe, every foot of whose soil 
has been fairly purchased by treaties 
from its original possessors. The last 
Indian title extinguished was that of the 
Wyandots, and they left for Kansas in 
-July, 1843. 



EARLY FORMATION 



Miamis and other tribes 
their hunting grounds. 



•Inimcd it as 



Wood County Seat Once at Detroit Struggle 

Over Location — Rivalry Between 

Orleans and Perrysburg 



Mlv. EVEES compiled the following 
bit of interesting history of Wood 
county in its early days: 

The territory now known as Wood 
county, belonged to tlie Eries, or, as 
some historians say, the Neuter Nation. 
The French explorers and missionaries 
first saw the shores of Lake Erie, and 
next to the Iroquois, invaded the 
country about the close of the first half 
of the Seventeenth Century. From the 
beginning of French exploration to 1713, 
it formed a part of the original province 
of Quebec: from 1713 to 1764, it was a 
part of Louisiana; from 1764 to 1769, 
under the British parliament statute, it 
belonged to Quebec ])rovince: from 1769 
to 1778, under authority of the Virginia 
legislature, it was attached to Boletourt 
county, Va., and from 1778 to 1787, it 
formed a part of Illinois county, Va. 

When the territory northwest of the 
Ohio was established in 1787, Wood 
county was its wildest and most inhos- 
pitable part, and later off of Wayne coun- 
ty (organized in 1796). The Ottawas, 



The First Legislature 

Of Ohio, in March and April, 1803^ 
esta])lished the counties of Green, Mont- 
gomery, Oallia, Butler, Warren, Geauga, 
Scioto and Franklin, and all of Wood 
county, south of the Fulton line was de- 
tached from the great county of Wayne. 
Our county seat was then at Detroit. 
Congress had since chopped us off, so to 
speak, and, like a chip from a great log, 
we were lying over in the state of Ohio, 
and our late county seat, Detroit, was in 
Wayne county still, but in Indiana ter- 
ritory. The ]\Iaumee country had been 
divorced. We were in that fragment of 
Ohio that liad been Wayne county, North- 
Avest territory, but now we were in a new 
state, without a seat of justice or county 
government, nor even a county name. 

No Use For It 

It is true that the hordes of Indians 
and few white traders and half breeds 
here had but little use for a county seat, 
but still it was the fashion to preserve 
the semblance of civil government, by 
attaching all territory to some organized 
county for such purposes. It had been 
the rule too, on the Ohio, where the set- 
tlements began, to extend the limits of 
tlie now counties to the northern bound- 



SCKAP-BOOK. 



11 



ary of the territory. So it happened, 
when Green and Franklin counties were 
organized on the northern borders of the 
settlements, they were extended north to 
the state line, possibly to include the 12 
mile reserve, and took in the present ter- 
ritory of Wood. The present tier of 
eastern townships of Wood were in 
Franklin, with the county seat at Frank- 
linton, now Columbus, and the remainder 
of Wood was attached to Green county, 
with seat of justice at Xenia. But the 
fact that this territory had two county 
seats caused but little inconvenience; ex- 
cept the U. S. Eeserve it was all Indian 
territory; there were no taxes to pay or 
deeds to record. Settlements, however, 
^\ere extending up the Mad river very 
fast, and two years later, 1805, Cham- 
paign county was formed of parts of 
Green and Franklin counties, and in 
1817, Logan county was organized. 
Wood county was in Logan county from 
1817 to 1820 as well as in Erie county 
in the territory of Michigan, for the 
Michigan authorities jnstly exercised 
jurisdiction over a part of it. 

Dr. Horatio Conant had no sooner 
made his home within the old limits of 
Wood county, than Governor Cass com- 
missioned him a Justice of the Peace of 
Erie county, with headquarters at ]\Lau- 
mee. To oppose this action, and as soon 
as Waynesfield township of Logan county 
Avas established, the governor of Ohio 
commissioned Seneca Allen, of Fort 
Meigs, a Justice of the Peace for Logan 
county, and thus it was in two distinct 
jurisdictions until 1835-36, when the 
Toledo war woke up congress to apply 
a remedy. 

A County of Their Own 

Now that the Maumee Rapids people 
had a county of their own, and a seat of 
justice right in their midst, it might 
reasona1)ly be presumed that they would, 
after the gi-eat inconvenience they had 
endured, be happy to a man. Xot so. 



lliuikan naliire is not shaped thus. Jt 
was the same then as it is today ; never 
satistied. ^laumec had the county seat 
ti'mporarily, but not by general approval. 
Orleans and Perrvsburg were not pleas- 
ed. The settlers were pretty evenly di- 
vided on each side of the river. But in 
the new counties then forming, the seats 
of justice were fixed temporarily by the 
legislature until the developments of pop- 
ulation should indicate where the prop^u' 
place for the county seat would be, when 
three disinterested commissioners were 
appointed, whose duty it was to carefully 
investigate the situation and fix upon the 
location of the county seat. Had the 
location of tlie seat of justice been by a 
vote of the settlers, no doubt Maumee 
Avould have held it at that time. 

Both Sides Were Envious 

Orleans and Perrysljurg, both on the 
south side of the river, were envious of 
each other and would not act in unity, 
and in a triangular battle, Maumee 
could out vote either of them. The ques- 
tion has often been raised in later years 
as to how Perrysburg got the county 
seat away from her stronger neighbor, 
Maumee, and we believe this is the first 
time an explanation has appeared in 
print. 

The County Seat Located 

At the session of the legislature, in 
the winter of 1821-22, Charles E. Sher- 
man (father of Senator and General 
Sherman), Edward Paine, Jr., and 
Xehemiah King were appointed commis- 
sioners io fix the pennanent location of 
the county seat of Wood county. At the 
May term of court in Maumee, 1823, the 
report of these commissioners, a copy of 
which had been placed on file with the 
clerk, was read in open court, and froin 
which report (following the language of 
the journal), "it appears that the town 
of Perrysburg in said county of Wood^ 
was selected as the most proper place aa 



12 



THE PIONEEE 



a seat of justice for said county of Wood, 
the said town of Perrysburg being as 
near the center of said county of Wood, 
as to situation, extent of population, 
quality of land and convenience and in- 
terest of the inhabitants of said county 
of Wood, as was possible, the commis- 
sioners aforesaid designate in-lot No. 
387, as the most proper site for the court 
house of said county of Wood." 

Fought Till the Last 

It must not for a moment be supposed 
that Maumee surrendered up this coveted 
prize without a protest, or that Orleans 
looked on with an approving smile. 
Both opposed it with every possible in- 
fluence, but Perrysburg had a powerful 
ally. Just at this critical juncture, the 
United States gave some friendly aid to 
her protege. 

A Gift of Great Benefit 

In May, 1822, Congress enacted a law 
vesting the title to all unsold lots and 
out-lots in Perrysburg, in the Commis- 
sioners of Wood county, on condition 
that the county seat should be perman- 
ently located there. The net proceeds 
of the sale of the lots were to be used in 
erecting public buildings, etc. There 
was a considerable number of these lots 
unsold and the gift proved of great bene- 
fit to the county in its early poverty, in 
getting a jail and court house without 
much expense to the tax-payers. Re- 
gardless of this help to the county, the 
decision of the commissioners who locat- 
ed the seat of justice, was a wise and 
also a just one, either in the light of the 
views set forth in their report, or of what 
subsequently occurred, the dismember- 
ment of Wood county to form Lucas. 

A Complicated Question 



There was. too. nt 



time a compli- 



cated question of jurisdiction between 
Ohio and the territory of Michigan, 
which well nigh provoked a war 15 years 
later. According to the claims of Michi- 
gan, most of the territory north of the 
Maumee belonged to her. The tinal de- 
cision of the question rested with Con- 
gress, as Michigan was not yet a state. 
This uncertainty of jurisdiction may also 
have had its influence with the commis- 
sion which .fixed the permanent county 
seat at Perrysburg. It was known to 
the friends of the latter place, and the 
Hollisters, Spaffords and others, who had 
at that time invested in property in Per- 
rysburg, were tacticians enough to work 
the point for all it was worth. Although 
the decision of the commission in favor 
of Perrysburg was made in May, 1822, 
there does not appear to have been any 
haste in the removal. 

The Commissioners Meet 

The first meeting of the county com- 
missioners in Perrysburg, as shown by 
their journal, was on the 3rd of March 
following, nearly ten months after the 
decision had been made. Their minutes 
of the proceeding in Maumee, during al- 
most three years, show a light amount of 
routine work. They had constructed a 
log jail and taken some steps looking to 
the establishment of roads. Their 
record for the entire time covers only 
about 20 pages, and the auditor, Am- 
brose Rice, received $29.75 for his ser- 
vices in the year ending March 4, 1823. 
Thomas W. Powell, then prosecuting at- 
torney, was appointed auditor for the 
year 1823, and filled both offices, getting 
an allowance of $30 for his services as 
auditor, which was 25 cents more than 
Rice got. 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



13 



THE TREATY OF MAUMEE 



Most Important to Wood County Opposed 
by Some of the Indian Chiefs Thrill- 
ing Scenes This Section at Last 
Placed on the Map 



THE conclusion of the series of great 
events by which the United States 
acquired a clear title deed to the lands 
now embraced in Wood county was that 
of the Maumee Treaty in 1817. In 
September of that year Duncan McAr- 
thur and Lewis Cass, as the authorized 
agents of the United States, met the 
Wyandot, Ottawa, Chippewa, Pottawa- 
tomy, Seneca, Delaware, and Sha^\a"iee 
tribes to the number of about 7,000 In- 
dians, at a treaty council at the Maumee 
Rapids and purchased from them all 
their remaining lands in Ohio except 
some scattering reservations. Only one 
of these touched the present limits of 
Wood county. 

Of all the great treaties from that 
made with the Iroquois at Fort Stanwix 
in 1784, down to this at the Maumee 
Rapids, none was so important to North- 
western Ohio. Campaigns had bean 
made and battles fought — sometimes to 
end in defeat, sometimes in victory. 
Treaty had followed treaty, bnt each and 
all had consigned this land to the sway 
of the savage. Almost three decades 
had passed from the time the Marietta 
Colony was planted on the Ohio in 1878, 
until the power of the government was 
invoked in bringing the unshadowed 
noonday light of Civilization to the Mau- 
mee country. Now, for the first time 
could it be said that this section stood 
on an equality with the rest of Ohio, 
free from the fetters of ownership and 
dominance of a race whose interests, 
habits, customs and mode of life were 
entirely opposed to the improvement of 
the country. 



It is possible that this land was, in 
that early time, thought unfit for white 
occupation, or rather that it was better 
suited to the uses of Indians than whites. 
It was doubtless true that in some re- 
spects this portion of Ohio was not the 
most desirable of any in the State. That, 
however, coupled with the fact that it 
was held as Indian territory for about 
thirty years after settlement begun in 
other portions of the State, explains why 
some of the counties were, for a time, 
way behind the procession. 

A line drawn from Sandusky Bay 
south along the west end of the Con- 
necticut Reserve to the Greenville treaty 
line, near Mount Gilead, thence wester- 
ly along that line to the Indiana line, 
thence north to Michigan, and including 
all the west part of Ohio as far as De- 
fiance, and down the Maumee to its 
mouth, would about embrace the Ohio 
land bought at that treaty, and since cut 
up into about eighteen counties. Wood, 
as she is today, lay entirely within this 
purchase, aside from the half of the 
twelve-mile square Reserve on the north 
side of the Maumee, bought at Wayne's 
treaty. The land on the north side of 
the Maumee, west to Defiance, was 
bought at the treaty of Detroit, 1807. 

The treaty was regarded by the people 
of the state with great interest. This 
part of Ohio north of the Greenville line 
was a blank space on the map. It was 
simply the Indian territory and the 
"Black Sw^'"iir,." Its name caused a 
shrug of terror to many. In others 
there was a belief that while it was not 
an earthly paradise, yet it was a good 
place to go and "grow up with the coun- 

try" 

The Indians too, did not agree as to 

the advisability of soiling it. There 

was a division among ihem and some 

stout opposition developed at the treaty. 

Signing the Treaty of 1817 

Gen. Hunt, in his reminiscences, says: 



14 



THE PIONEER 



There was an Indian present whose 
name was jMashkeman, who was a great 
warrior, and prided himself on being a 
British subject. He had been bribed to 
oppose the treaty. Wlien he found the 
Indians giving way to Cass and McAr- 
tbur, our commissioners, it made him 
very angry. He said in his speech that 
*'the palefaces had cheated the red men, 
from their first landing on this conti- 
nent. The first who came said they 
wanted land enough to put a foot on. 
They gave the Indians a beef, and wore 
to have so much land as the hide would 
cover. The palefaces cut that hide inlo 
strings, and got land enough for a fort. 
The next time they wanted more land 
they bought a great pile of goods, which 
they offered for land. The red men took 
the goods, and the palefaces were to have 
for them so much land as a horse would 
travel round in a day. They cheated 
the red man again by having a relay of 
horses to travel at their utmost speed. 
In that way they succeeded. Now, you 
Cass," pointing his finger and shaking 
his tomahawk over Cass' head, "ISTow, 
you Cass, come here to cheat us again."" 
Tluis closing he sat down. Cass replied : 
"My friends, I am much pleased to find 
among you so great a man as Mashke- 
man. I am glad to see you have an ora- 
tor, a man who understands how much 
you have been cheated by the white peo- 
ple, and who is fully able to cope with. 
them — those scoundrels who have cheat- 
ed you so outrageously. 'Tis true what 
he has said, every Avord true. And the 
first white man Avns your French father. 
The second Avhite man was your Englisli 
father you seem to think so much of. 

"NoAv you have a father, the Presi- 
dent, Avho does not want to cheat you, 
but wants to give you more land west of 
the IMississippi than you have here, anrl 
to build 7uills for vou, and help yoii till 
the soil." 

At which Mashkeman raved and froth- 
ed at the mouth. He came up to Gen. 



Cass, struck liim on the breast with the 
back of his hand, raising his tomahawk 
with the other hand, saying, "Cass, you 
lie; you lie!" 

Cass turned to Knaggs, who was one 
of the interpreters, and said : "Take 
tliat woman away and put a petticoat on 
lier; no man would talk that way in 
council." 

Tavo or three Indians and interpretors 
took liim off out of the council. Tlie 
treaty resulted in buying from the In- 
dians the northwestern part of Ohio and 
tlie southern part of Michigan. 

Another warrior, Otusso, meaning 
White Cloud, and his mother were also 
]u-esent and are thus spoken of: 

Otusso, son of Kantuck-e-gau, the 
most eloquent warrior of his tribe, was 
a very intelligent Indian — quite the 
equal of Tecumseh in mental acumen, 
but lacking the force and vigor of the 
latter. Otusso was a descendant of the 
I'enoAvned Pontiac, and at tlie time of 
his death the last of his family, and the 
last Avar phief of his nation, remaining 
on the Maumee river. 

His mother was a sort of Indian 
Queen and grandniece to Pontiac. She 
Avas held in great reverence by the In- 
dians — so much so, that at the time of 
this treaty in 1817 (she then being very 
old and Avrinkled and bent over Avith 
age, her hair perfectly white), no chief 
Avould sign the treaty until she had first 
consented and made her mark bv touch- 
ing her fingers to the pen. At that 
treaty there Avere 7,000 Indians gather- 
ed together. When the treaty was 
agreed upon, the head chiefs and war- 
riors sat round the inner circle. She 
had a place among them. The remain- 
ing Indians, with the Avomen and chil- 
dren, comprised a crowd outside. The 
chiefs sat on seats built under the roof 
of the council house, Avhich was open on 
all sides. The whole assembly kept si- 
lence. The chiefs boAved their heads and 
cast their eves to the ground and Availed 



S(']JAr-F.OOK. 



15 



patiently for the old woman until she 
rose, went forward, and toucliod the pen 
to the treaty, after it had been read to 
them in her presence. Then followed 
the signatures of all the chiefs. 

More Encouragement to Settlers 

Following close after this treaty an- 
other helpful thing to the settlement 
took place. The Government in the 
previous year. 181fi, liad not only plat- 
ted the town of Perrysburg but had re- 
surveyed the 12-mile Reserve. It was 



in this survey that a change was made 
and the land along the river subdivided 
into river tracts instead of the usual 
form of survey. 

The land office was at Wooster, Ohio, 
and in 1817 the sale took place, which 
proved of great advantage to the settle- 
ment. It gave a fixedness and perman- 
ence to the improvements started. Hith- 
erto when all were squatters without 
fixed tenure there was but little incen- 
tive to go into extensive improvement. 
— ('. IF. E. 



WOOD COUNTY BORN 



In the Track of Startling Events Long Before 
It Had a Name 



WOOD COUNTY, in name and 
boundary, was bom into the sis- 
terhood of Ohio counties April 1, 1820, 
by an act of the Ohio Assembly. She 
drew her first breath of official corporate 
life in the following month, May 12, in 
the second story of a little store room in 
Maumee. There the first Board of Com- 
missioners (Daniel Hubbell, John Pray 
and W. H. Ewing) held their first meet- 
ing and made the first page of the official 
records of Wood county. 

The beginning was small, but the ex- 
pectations were proportionately great. 
It is safe to affirm that there was not at 
that time a more unpromising member 
in the family of Ohio counties. Possi- 
bly tliat gallant soldier, Captain Wood, 
who was Gen. Harrison's chief engineer 
at Fort Meigs, and who helped to defend 
that post in 1812, and for whom Wood 
county was named, did not feel ver}' 
highly complimented. But were it pos- 
sible that he could rise up from beside 
the marble shaft built to his memory on 
the Hudson at West Point, and view this 



land now touched by the magic wand 
of three generations, he would not be 
ashamed of his progressive namesake. 

The biography of these hardy pioneers 
and the historic events of the memorable 
past rightly form a part of the story of 
Wood county. An account of the land 
and of the individuals and communities 
who occupy it makes l)iography and his- 
tory, two of the most interesting branch- 
es of human knowledge. 

Wood county, with her accumulation 
of historic years and thrifty, progressive 
people, has a contribution of this kind 
now fast passing into oblivion, which, 
if truthfully and fittingly told, is well 
worthy a place in our national history. 
]\Iuch that belongs to and becomes a part 
of our history occurred before our land 
had a place marked in the geography of 
the world. The homes which we enjoy 
to-day lay in tlie tracks of great events 
of the past. 

Long before the silent wastes of Wood 
liad even a name, the martial tread of 
armies responded to the call of the na- 
tion, when its destiny hung trembling in 
tlie l)alance. It was then the startling 
roar of cannon proclaimed that the final 
contest between Civilization and Barbar- 
ism was in deadly issue at her very 
threshold.— C. ^Y.' E. 



16 



THE PIONEEK 



CATHOLIC MISSIONS 



First Established in Ohio Interesting Sketch 
by D. W, Manchester, of Cleveland 



THE following interesting sketch of 
the first Catholic explorers and mis- 
sionaries, was furnished Mr. Evers some 
years ago by D. W. Manchester, Secre- 
tary and Librarian of the Western Ee- 
serve Historical Society, with headquar- 
ters at Cleveland: 

There has been much published relat- 
ing to early explorations in North Amer- 
ica and the West, but a great portion 
from the different sources does not seem 
to assimilate, or there seems, rather, to 
be a disagreement with the whole. There 
has been less published, because of less 
general interest, perhaps, respecting the 
first priests and their missions; but what 
has been published appears to be more 
definite and reliable. I suppose there is 
no doubt that LaSalle was the first white 
man who "looked into the Maumee Val- 
ley," although Jolliet undoubtedly was 
the first Frenchman who navigated Lake 
Erie; and while the latter may have 
coasted along the southerly shore of that 
Lake, there is no probability that he pen- 
etrated at all the interior. There is 
scarcely any ground for question that La- 
Salle did make explorations within the 
present state, and he is believed to have 
been at Cleveland and in the vicinity of 
Canfield, Mahoning county. On this 
expedition LaSalle set out from Mon- 
treal, July, 1667, "with five Canoes and 
three Canoes of Sulpitians guided by 
some Senecas who had wintered in Cana- 
da." Col. Chas. Whittlesey, until his 
death president of the Western Eeserve 
Historical Society from its organization, 
speaking of this expedition, the only 
record of which, so far as I am aware, 
being that of Galinee, "still in deacon's 
orders," who accompanied LaSalle, says, 
"LaSalle's plan might have been to cross 



Lake Ontario to Grand river, down it to 
the lake, thence along the north shore 
of Erie to the mouth of the Maumee 
river on the route referred to by him in 
1663." The Colonel also says, "He (La- 
Salle) may have spent the winter (1669- 
70) in Ohio, where game was abundant 
and beaver numerous. We have no re- 
liable evidence that he was at Montreal 
between July 1669 and August 1672." 

There is much mystery about the move- 
ments of LaSalle, and an unfortunate 
lack or reliable data, arising largely 
from the fact that the Catholics make 
as little mention of him as possible after 
what they term his "apostasy." Gen. 
Garfield, in a valuable address, published 
as Tract 20, publications of the Histori- 
cal Society, entitled "Discovery and 
Ownership of the Northwestern Terri- 
tory and Settlement of the Western Ee- 
serve," follows much the same line of 
thought as Col. Whittlesey, and speaking 
of LaSalle's expedition says, "We find 
him with a small party near the western 
extremity of Lake Ontario boldly enter- 
ing the domain of the dreaded Iroquois, 
traveling southward and westward 
through the wintry wilderness until he 
reached a branch of the Ohio, probably 
the Alleghany." 

Before the death of Col. Whittlesey, 
Pierre Margry communicated to him an 
extract from an unpublished letter (with- 
out date) of LaSalle's, in which the lat- 
ter mentions "the river which you see 
marked on my map of the southern coast 
of this lake (Erie), etc." The original 
of this letter was sent to Francis Park- 
man, who says, "On the map described 
'Discovery of Great West' the Maumee 
river is clearly laid down, with a portage 
direct to the Ohio, which is brought close 
to Lake Erie." This map is clearly an- 
terior to 1680. 

I might add that an additional reason 
^fhy there is so little account of LaSalle's 
travels and explorations, is found in 
the fact that a part of the papers were 



SCKAP-BOOK. 



17 



lost in the attack of the Iroquois on the 
post in 1681, and that on his assassina- 
tion in 1687, his brother, the Abbe 
Cavalier, burned the most of the papers 
that were found with him. 

Mr. Gillmany Shea is of the opinion 
that we may conclude that "unauthor- 
ized trappers, traders and Coureurs de 
bois, both French and English, were 
among the Indians in advance of the 
explorers." 

It is a fact, I believe, that the early 
explorers and priests (and they were in- 
separable) came direct from Canada to 
the Northwest Territory, and Mr. Shea 
says that Father Joseph Ix> Caron was 
the first Catholic priest from Canada 
who penetrated into the present territory 
of the United States. He was one of four 
Fransiscans whom Champlain obtained 
from France in 1614. A year later, 
Le Caron was laboring among the In- 
dians at Lake Huron; but I think there 
is no evidence that he was in the limits 
of Ohio. 

Mr. Shea is unquestioned authority on 
Catholic missions in America, and in an 
article contributed by him to the Catholic 
Universe of Cleveland in 1881, and which 
paper the E«v. G. F. Houck, Chancellor 
of the Cleveland Diocese, which embraces 
tliirty-three counties in Northern and 
Northwestern Ohio, has embodied in his 
book entitled "The Church in Northern 
Ohio," says, "The first trace of Catholic 
missionaries having visited the territory 
now within the limits of Ohio, is foimd 
as early as 1749. It was then that the 
Jesuit Fathers, Potier and Bonnecamp, 
came to evangelize the Huron Indians 
living along the Vermillion and Sandus- 
ky rivers, in Northern Ohio. He also 
states that the first permanent chapel 
within the confines of the present state 
of Ohio, was erected near Sandusky in 
1751, by the Jesuit Father de la Eich- 
ardie, who, with his companions, had 



come from Detroit and Canada to the 
southern shore of Lake Erie. 

A part of the Huron tribe was brought 
by Father de la Eichardie, in 1751, to 
Sandusky, where, under the name of 
Wyandots, they soon took an active part 
in the affairs of the West. They were 
also conspicuous in the last French War, 
and at its close were implicated in the 
conspiracy of Pontiac, though long 
checked by the influence of Father Peter 
Potier, S. J. During the exciting times 
of the war these missionaries were driven 
from Sandusky, Father Potier being the 
last Jesuit missionary among the west- 
ern Hurons. He died in July, 1781. 
The Indian missions in and near San- 
dusky thence depended entirely on the 
priests attached to the French posts in 
Canada and Michigan. 

When the Society of Jesus was sup- 
pressed, and Canada lost to the French, 
the above mentioned Indian missions 
were abandoned. From 1751 to 1795 no 
record is found of any further effort 
made in Northern Ohio to continue the 
missionary work begiin by the Jesuits. 
In the early part of 1796 the Eev. Ed- 
mund Burke was sent by Bishop Hubert, 
of Quebec, from Detroit, to the north- 
western part of Ohio, near Fort Miami, 
just built by the British govermnent on 
the IMaumee river, opposite the present 
site of Perrysburg, Wood county. 

Here he resided about one vear. minis- 
tering to the few Catholic soldiers in the 
fort, and endeavorinp^ witli little success, 
to christianize the Ottawa and Chippe- 
wa Indians in th<^ noio-hborhood — the 
latter work having been for long one of 
his aims as a missionary priest. Father 
Burke left this unpromising charge about 
Februarv, 1797. From that time, and 
until 1817, no priest was stationed in 
Northern Ohio, and in fact none in the 
entire territory of the present state of 
Ohio."— 77. W. Manchester. 



18 



THE PIONEER 



DISASTROUS CAMPAIGNS 



Under Gens. Harmar and St. Clair Terror 

of Settlers Grief of Washington The 

Man Chosen for the Emergency — 

Washington and Wayne 

Contrasted 



EARLY in the year 1790, a short dis- 
tance north of Marietta, twelve 
white settlers were inhumanly butchered 
and their bodies burned by the Indians. 
'This was the beginning of what is some- 
times known in history as Wayne's War. 
The Government still entertained 
hopes of avoiding a general war, but it 
was thought best at the same time to 

■ chastise the Indians severely for this out- 
rage and make them feel the power of 
the "thirteen fires" as the Indians termed 
the United States. Accordingly Gen, 
Harmar, an old continental officer, with 

■ a battalion of regular troops and twelve 
hundred Kentucky and Pennsylvania vol- 
unteers, marched against the hostile war- 
riors. These latter fell back to the Mau- 
mee at the junction of the St. Joseph 
and St. Mary's rivers, now Fort Wayne. 

Gen, Harmar' s Defeat 

There, after some bad generalship by 
Harmar, a part of his army was ambush- 
ed by the Indians under command of a 
Miami chief named Little Turtle and 
many of the regulars with their officers 
killed. The volunteers saved themselves 
by inglorious flight. 

Thus, disastrously ended the first at- 
tempt to punish the Indians. Embold- 
"^ened by this victory and stimulated by 
the plunder it secured them the savages 
'"became more defiant and bloodthirsty 
vthan ever. The situation of the settlers 
;at this time was one of great peril. Sev- 
eral desultory war expeditions by the 
Kentucky and Virginia volunteers were 
made, whicli resulted cliiefly in destroy- 
ing some Indian villasres and their corn- 



fields, but this only exasperated the re- 
vengeful savages to additional atrocities. 

Gen. St, Clair's Disaster 

A second expedition by the Government 
was commanded by Gen. Arthur St. 
Clair, at that time Governor of the 
Northwest territory. On the approach 
of this army the Indians, this time fell 
back on a more direct route to the Mau- 
mee. St. Clair, who had seen service in 
the war of the Revolution, was a gouty 
old man, lacking not only in vital energy, 
Init in the qualities of an Indian fighter. 
He pursued the retreating foe until they 
had reached a point (since called Fort 
Recovery near the head of the Wabash, on 
the line of the present counties of Darke 
and Mercer) , where, one morning at day- 
light the Americans were suddenly and 
unexpectedly attacked by an overwhelm- 
ing force of Indians, again led by the 
wily chieftain Little Turtle. St. Clair's 
army was utterly defeated and routed 
with a loss in slain of over nine hundred 
men, nearly half of his fighting force, to- 
gether with his cannon, ammunition, 
liuggage and other equipment. 

An Appalling Calamity 

No such appalling, ghastly disaster 
had ever before befel the whites in Indian 
warfare; not even Braddock's defeat 
equaled it in loss of life. 

The prisoners and wounded were put 
to death with the most diabolical tortures 
known in savage warfare, while the dead 
were mutilated in the most horrible man- 
ner. The eyes of these were gouged out 
and the sockets as well as the mouth and 
ears filled with earth — as if in a grim, 
hideous satisfaction of the white man's 
demand for more land. The brutality 
and demoniacal vengeance of the savages 
was never more atrociously exhibited 
than in this defeat and pursuit of the 
whites. The direful news spread rapid- 
ly from the frontier to the Atlantic and 
the helpless l)order settlers spoke of the 




GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE 

Hero of The Battle of Fallen Timber. Born in Chester Co., Pa., Jan. I , I 743. 

Died at Presque Isle, Erie, Pa., Dec. 15, 1796. 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



21 



calamity with bated breath and terror. 
The situation was now deplorable in the 
extreme. 

Washington's Great Grief 

President Washington, it is related, 
wrung his hands and shed tears of an- 
guish when the news reached him and 
both swore and prayed in the conflict of 
frenzied emotions which almost distract- 
ed his mind. He was inconsolable, 
doubtless in part, for his share of the re- 
sponsibilit}', in appointing a man Avho 
had proved as incompetent as St. Clair. 

The whole country clamored loudly 
now for active and strong measures by 
the Government. A leader was in de- 
mand to go to the frontier, organize an 
army and punish and subdue the sav- 
ages, an undertaking of no small mag- 
nitude as the case then stood. The Pres- 
ident, after much serious deliberation, 
sent for 

Gen. Anthony Wayne 

A former military associate, living at 
Chester, Pennsylvania, a small farmer 
and surveyor by occupation. Wayne 
mounted his horse and rode to the capital 
city to see what his old commander want- 
ed. He was then in the prime of life, a 
fighter by nature, of audacious courage 
and had the greatest degree of confidence 
in the wisdom and judgment of the Presi- 
dent, in all things. 

He promptly consented to go and fight 
the Indians if the President would allow 
him time to recruit, equip and drill his 
aimy before he was required to march 
against the enemy, which reasonable pre- 
caution, of course, was assented to. 

Wayne and Washington 

Anthony Wayne, whom President 
Washington had called to his aid in this 
grave emergency, was a rugged, pictur- 
esque character of the Eevolutionaiy 
period. It seems even at this distant 
da}', an anomaly in the character of the 
great President that he had always placed 



such implicit trust and confidence in one 
so much unlike himself in nearly every 
characteristic. 

Wayne, while not dissipated, loved grog 
and jovial companions. Washington, 
was sedate, dignified and sober. Wayne 
was subject to startling ebullitions of 
profanity when angry or excited and it 
mattered little either who his auditors 
were. Washington was self-poised and 
devoutly religious in character. 

As soldiers, too,, they were unlike. 
Wayne in battle struck with the furry of a 
tempest, regardless of consequences. He 
was by some called reckless and had even 
then won the soubriquet of "Mad Anth- 
ony," which followed him to his grave. 
Washington was slow and deliberate, cal- 
culating carefully the, effect of every 
movcmient. 

Wayne had the dash and impetuosity 
of Murat, fonning his conclusions on the 
impulse of the moment. Washington 
liad the crafty strategy, foresight and in- 
flexibility of purpose of Frederick the 
Great. 

Wayne sought victory over his enemies 
by the sliort, sharp method of bloody an- 
nihilation. Washington compassed the 
destruction of his foe by adroit and far- 
reaching combinations and steady, hard 
fighting to a finish. 

Each was great in his sphere. Each 
devoutly loved his country, and this de- 
votion harmonized all differences or pre- 
judices in habits and character. Such 
were the men of the Kevolution. 

Illustrative somewhat of Wayne's pe- 
culiar characteristics an incident is told 
of him, whether true or not, during the 
dark days of the Eevolution. 

A council of war had been held at 
Washington's headquarters, and Wayne, 
who commanded a Pennsylvania brigade 
some distance away, had been decided on 
as a suitable leader of a storming party 
to assault and carry the high, rocky for- 
tress of Stony Point on the Hudson. The 
fortress was not only strong by nature. 



22 



THE PIONEER 



but was defended by six hundred trainpd 
British soldiers, and the mere thought of 
carrying it by a night attack was sug- 
gestive of desperate work. 

Storming Stony Point 

Washington sent for Wayne, with 
whom at that time he had but little per- 
sonal acquaintance. Watching closely 
the effects his question would have, he 
said: "Gen. Wayne, I have sent for yon 
to ask you a question; can you take your 
brigade and storm Stony Point?" Quick 
as a flash the general was on his feet and 
with a wicked light in his eye, staring 
straight into the face of the commander, 
he said : "General, I can storm hell, if 
you will lay the plan for me." 

This bluff, warlike answer, in the con- 
templation of so hazardous an enterprise, 
almost startled the sedate commander, 
but he saw in the resolute rough and 
ready soldier before him the very man 
he had been looking for to lead the as- 
sault on Stony Point. 

Wayne did not disappoint his com- 
mander's expectations. He led his men 
up the rocky precipice over the British 
parapets in the face of a deadly fire with 
the sweep of a rising tornado. When 
near the top a bullet struck Wayne on 
the head and knocked him down, but 
with a blasphemous oath on all the Brit- 
ish he commanded his men, who thought 
him fatally hurt, to carry him into the 
fortress, where he met the English com- 
mandant, paralyzed and dumfounded at 
the audacity and suddenness of the at- 
tack and who surrendered without con- 
ditions. This daring and successful ex- 
pedition led by Wayne, was pronounced 
by Gen. Charles Lee to be the most bril- 
liant achievement of the war. 

A Soldier and Leader 

Wayne fought in nearly all the prin- 
cipal battles of the Revolution and al- 
ways with distinction. If there was any 
desperate work to bo done his was the 



first name mentioned. His savage at- 
tack on Cornwallis in Virginia, in which 
he inflicted heavy loss on the British, 
doubtless saved Lafayette from serious 
disaster in that campaign. Wayne was 
sent to Georgia and routed and dro\^e 
from that state a large force of Indians 
on their way to join the British. The 
Georgia Legislature voted him their 
thanks, and also gave him a large tract 
of land for this service. In this cam- 
paign Wayne acquired some useful ex- 
perience in Indian diplomacy and war- 
fare, which afterwards came in good play 
in dealing with his Indian foes. 

It should not, from these jottings of 
Wayne's early career, be inferred that he 
was a reckless or unsafe commander. 
There was neither lack of method nor of 
tactics in his mode of warfare. He was 
a leader and shared all the dangers and 
hardships of his men. He had good 
executive ability, unerring judgment and 
an acuteness of perception amounting al- 
most to intuition. Shrewd and quick in 
expedient, watchful, cautious and ener- 
getic, Anthony Wayne was 

A Dangerous Antagonist 

Either in savage or civilized warfare. 
Such was the man chosen to carry the 
stars and stripes- — the banner of Civiliza- 
tion to the ]\Iaumee wilderness and whose 
career we have deemed wortliy of more 
than a passing notice. 

In his memory, there should be here, 
«. bronze statue the base of which should 
be the famous Turkey Foot Rock, which 
yet marks the place of his last battle. 

The President was delayed in getting 
the necessary appropriations l)y Congress, 
hut Wayne in the meantime went west to 
Pittsburg, preferring to recruit his army 
from the border men, who made l^etter 
soldiers for an Indian campaign. 

It Mill not be difficult to understand 
why there was at first a reluctance on the 
part of men to enlist to fight the savages 
after the disastrous termination of the 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



23 



two previous campaigns. It seemed, like 
signing one's own death warrant to en- 
roll to fight Indians, the way things had 
been going. Bnt Wayne's prestige as a 
soldier, with his other characteristics so 
well suited to western men of that time, 
soon won the day, and his army, which 
was to be called The Legion, divided into 
four sub-divisions, soon begun to assume 
figliting proportions. 

Terms of Peace Rejected 

In the meantime all emigration north 
of the Ohio had ceased. The settlers 
already there lived in, or close to block 
houses and even in this way were in peril 
of their lives. The Government all this 
time had beeii putting forth every effort 
to bring the tribes together in a grand 
council and, if it wore possible, to yet 
avert a general war. Five different mes- 
sengers had been sent among them on 
peace missions and all save one had been 
murdered, and this one was unable to 
effect any arrangement satisfactory to 
both sides. "The Ohio river must be the 
boundary or blood will flow," was the 
Indian ultimatum. 

Wayne, while awaiting the result of 
the Government's peace efforts, was drill- 
ing and practicing his troops. In the 
early part of October, 1793, he advanced 
northward from the Ohio to a strong po- 
sition in the enemy's country, where he 
established Fort Greenville, now the 
county seat of Darke county. 

It was already too late in the season to 
hope to bring the campaign to a success- 
ful issue before winter, but the position 
of his army was such that he could afford 
protection to the settlements and at the 
same time keep his line of communica- 
tions open for supplies. Gen. Wayne, 
therefore, decided to remain here until 
spring. About one thousand mounted 
men from Kentucky who had joined him 
went home for the winter, but had formed 
so good an opinion of his army and of 
Wayne's generalship, that tliey promised 



to come back in the spring, which they 
did with their numbers increased to 1,600 
troops. 

Burying St. Clair's Dead 

After establishing his men securely in 
winter quarters Wayne sent a detachment 
of troops to the place of St. Clair's de- 
feat, twenty-three miles in advance of his 
army, where he established another strong 
outpost called Fort Recovery. These 
troops had first to perform the melan- 
choly duty of gathering up the bleaching 
skeletons of St. Clair's illfated men. Ko 
less than six hundred skulls were picked 
up and buried. 

It was the wisli of the President that 
Wayne should establish and garrison a 
chain of military posts from the Ohio to 
the stronghold of the Indians at the Mau- 
mee, so as to more effectually check all 
hostile expeditions and to make the In- 
dians understand that the Government 
had power at hand and could summarily 
punish its enemies and also protect its 
friends. 

The Indians had bv tliis time l)eoome 
pretty well satisfied tliat the Government 
meant to deal vigorously with them and 
exerted themselves correspondingly. 

Ind'an Trihes Uniting 

Under the advice of Brandt, Blue 
Jacket, Roundhead, Little Turtle and oth- 
er leading chieftains, influoud'd by Brit- 
ish and Canadian emissaries, who prom- 
ised them aid to drive back the hated 
Americans, the tril)os were to all unite 
and make common cause against the ad- 
vancing enemy. 

Runners were sent to distant tribes to 
urge them to hurry forward their war- 
riors for the impending struggle. The 
medicine men were invoked to aid by all 
the infernal arts of which superstition 
was master, to stir up the embers of ha- 
tred against the people of the thirteen 
(now increased to fifteen) fires, by addi- 
tion of Vermont and Kentuclv}^ 

Wavne. with his knowlcdu-c of Indian 



24 



THE PION^EER 



character, from the start had serious 
doubts of the Government's ability to 
effect any satisfactory treaty. 

For this reason he had been restive at 
the restraint placed upon his movements, 
which practically delayed him almost a 
year. Still it is to the credit of the Gov- 
ernment and humanity that nothing was 
left undone that could tend to avert the 
bloody argument of the sword. 



Wayne's theory of handling savages i 

was a good deal like the famous 'Method- 
ist preacher, Peter Cartright, said about I 
his methods of converting the rough sin- ^i 
ners in the west at an early day. "Shake 
them over hell until they can smell brim- 
stone, and then they are willing to accept 
salvation.'"— C. W. E. 



EARLY HISTORY 



Pertaining to Wo ad County Wayne's Victory 

and Its Results The Several Treaties 

That FoUowad, Securing This 

Wide Domain 



IX giving the story of Wood county the 
reader is asked at the outset, to kind- 
ly bear in mind, that for a period of 
nearly one huiidred and fifty A^ears after 
the coming of the first whites. Wood 
county had neither name nor place on 
the Atlas of iVmerica. To make the 
story reasonably intelligible to the stu- 
dent of her history, some account of the 
events of that antecedent period becomes 
necessary. This will be given with due 
regard to avoiding too m;iny tcdioiis de- 
tails. 

The county as since constituted was, 
for more than one hundred years, a very 
insignificant part of a vast extent of 
territory under tlie nominal ownership 
of France. That ownership ceased in 
the year 1763 and passed to the Englisii, 
who, after retaining possession twenty 
years, surrendered in 1783. all their 
lands south of Cimada to the United 
States. That pai't of our history, like 
the unknown ages before the coming of 
the whites, is a blank. There are no 
written lines on its pages. There was 
nothing to write. The Freneli and Eng- 



lish left behind scarcely a visible trace 
of civilization in the Maumee country. 

Adventurous explorers and fur traders 
had visited it, occasionally, or passed 
through on their Journeys to distant 
points : that was all. The county re- 
mained in its primeval condition just as 
the forces of nature had left it since the 
dawn of creation. It Avas but a vast 
game preserve for vagrant bands of In- 
dian hunters. Indeed this condition of 
things continued during the first decade 
of ownership by the United States, when 
occurrences remote from here brought 
about a gradual change. 

The Indian tribes occupying the stretch 
of unbroken wilderness between the ^lau- 
mee and Ohio rivers began a relentless, 
murderous warfare on the infant Ameri- 
can settlements then springing up on the 
north side of the Ohio. This warfare, 
in whicli tlie tribes had the counsel and 
advice of mercenary British agents and 
traders at Detroit, was Avaged for the 
purpose of exterminating the whites or 
driving them to the south side of the 
Ohio. That Avas the boundary line the 
Indians had set. for the Americans. 
Treaties had been made for the pur- 
chase of the territory, but the claims of 
tlie tribes Avero so conflicting that one 
tribe would refuse to sanction or respect 
the agreements of another and the dead- 
ly strife continued. So numerous and 
Avarlike Avere the Indians that defeat or 
disaster had attonded nearlv everv Avar 



I 



si'i?ai'-]:();)a. 

expedition the xVmericans had sent 
against them. In the language of one of 
the Peace Commissioners sent to thein 
by the Government, "The savages hud 
become insolent with triumph." The 
settlers had flod to the forts and bloclc- 
houses for safety and it was evident that 
the country woukl have to be abandoned 
or the Government would have to adopt 
vigorous measures to break the power of 
the tribes, by inflicting severe chastise- 
ment u]ion them. 

In this emergency President Washing- 
ton, then at the head of the Government, 
sent out to the Ohio an old military as- 
sociate of his in tlie Kevohition, Gen. 
Anthony Wayne, a man of known fighting 
qualifications and l)y his habits, well 
suited to the rough and ready men on 
the frontier. Wayne made a success of 
the work he was chosen for. From the 
moment he organized his army and led 
it into the wilderness the panic-stricken 
settlers felt liope and, confidence. 

The Indians fell back slowly in the di- 
rection of the Maumee, watching for an 
opportunity to ambush or surprise the 
Americans as they had successfully done 
in two previous campaigns. Several sav- 
age assaults were made during the ad- 
vance, but the warrioi's, wlio fought like 
Spartans, were so rouglily handled bv 
Wayne's soldiers tliat they became more 
cautious. All devices and stratagems of 
savage warfare failed them. In the 
language of their alilest chieftain," Little 
Turtle, they had met a white chief 
whose eyes were never closed ; to whom 
the night and the day were alike. The 
more sagacious of the chiefs saw plainly 
that they were over-matched at last. 
With a sort of crude statesmanship that 
one cannot but admire in them, they at 
once cast aside all old tril)al diff"rences 
for the time being, senl runners to dis- 
tant tribes and bands for help and jnit 
forth every effort to rally a force ])owi'r- 
ful enough to destroy tlie ne\v invader. 
At that time the Maumee was tlir head 



25 



of Lake Erie, in fact the whole country 
to Detroit was the seat of a dense Indian 
population. 

A good descriptive writer of that time 
says: "The Maumee River was a de- 
lightful home and a secure retreat for 
our savage enemies. Its banks were 
studded with their villages, its rich bot- 
tom lands were covered with their corn, 
while their light canoes glided over a 
beautiful current, which was at once a 
convenient highway and an exhaustless 
reservoir of food. Forest, stream and 
prairie produced, spontaneously and in 
superabundance, game, fish, fruits, nuts 
— all things necessary to supply their 
simple wants. Here their wise men, 
without fear of molestation, gravely con- 
vened about their council fires, and de- 
liberated on the means of checking and 
rolling back the tide of white immigra- 
tion — a tide which they dimly foresaw 
would ultimately sweep their race from. 
the face of the earth. From here their 
young warriors crept forth, and stealth- 
ily approaching the homes of their nat- 
ural enemies, the palefaces, spread ruin 
and desolation far and wide. Here their 
booty and savage trophies were exhibited 
with the exultations and boasts of the 
returned 'braves.' Behind an impene- 
trable swamp, their women, children and 
propertv were safe during the absence of 
their men. Exempt from attack or pur- 
suit, the savage here enjoyed perfect 
freedom, and lived in accordance with 
his rude instincts and the habits and 
customs of his tribe. iVmid the scenes of 
his childhood, in the presence 'of his an- 
cestors' graves, the red warrior, with his 
squaw and pappoose, surrounded by all 
the essentials to the enjoyment of his 
simple wants, here lived out the charac- 
ter which nature had given him. In 
war. this valley was his base line of at- 
tack, his source of supplies, and his 
secure refuge: in peace, his home." 

When Wayne in the progress of his 
march arrived at the ;Mainnee where De- 



26 



THE PIONEER 



fiance is now, to his surprise he found 
the country had been abandoned by the 
enemy, but in his farther advance down 
the river on the northwesterly bank and 
when about two miles below the present 
town of Waterville, he found himself in 
the immediate presence of the confed- 
erated tribes of the northwest who had 
assembled their warriors in a well chosen 
position to dispute his further advance. 
The place chosen, some time previously, 
had been visited by a tornado that had 
prostrated nearly every tree in that forest 
and these trees lay as they fell in inde- 
scribable confusion. That battle ground 
has thus taken the name of "Fallen 
Timber," although some historians desig- 
nate it as "The Battle of the Maumee," 
and others refer to it as "Wayne's Battle." 

In the language of the missionary, 
Eev. James B. Finley, "It was the last 
united effort of Barbarism to check the 
swelling overflow of Civilization." This 
was on the 20th of August, 1794. It 
should be stated here also as showing the 
humane spirit of Washington toward 
these tribes, that while Gen. Wayne came 
with the sword of an Ajax in one hand, 
he carried the olive branch of peace 
in the other. Four days before the bat- 
tle Wayne sent a peace message to the 
tribes, but it was treated with contempt. 
Wayne, after making the necessary dis- 
position of his force, promptly assailed 
them. He swept everything before him. 
Such of the warriors as escaped the 
deadly bullets of the Americans sought 
safety in flight. Some fled to the Brit- 
ish fort "Miami" below where Maumee 
now stands. 

Eight here occurred a thing which had 
mueli to do in subsequent negotiations 
between the Americans and Indians. 
The latter had no doubt been furnished 
before the battle with arms and ammuni- 
tion by the English. They had also 
been encouraged by the English, whether 
from official sources or not is not so clear, 
that in case thev met with defeat thev 



would receive shelter at the fort. The- 
English commandant knew that the fort 
was there in violation of treaty rights 
with the Americans. It was on x\meri- 
can soil. He knew too, that should he 
give shelter to Wayne's armed enemies it 
would be a justifiable cause for the- 
Americans to storm the fort. At all 
events he prudently kept his gates closed 
and left the Indians to their fate. For 
this act of perfidy on the part of their - 
friends, the English, the Indians justly 
made loud complaint and in their treaty 
diplomacy with tlic Iribes that followed 
the Americans made good use of it. 

Gen. Wayne destroj'ed all the corn- 
fields and Indian villages on both sides 
of the river, and everything else that 
could shelter or subsist an Indian that 
he could lay hands on far and near from 
tlie ]\Iaumee Bay to Fort Wayne and be- 
yond, built and garrisoned Forts Wayne 
and Defiance and then marched back to 
Fort Greenville (now the site of the 
county seat of Darke county) and went 
into winter quarters, thus giving the 
tribes until spring to decide ;is to their 
future course; whether it should be for 
peace or for more war. 

So horrible a visitation and such con- 
dign chastisement had never befell them 
before. They had met a white chieftain 
who defied all their arts of warfare and 
whipped them on their own chosen field 
and wlioso genius for destruction sur- 
passed the Evil Spirit itself. The 
swampy fastnesses and the forest depths 
of the Maumee country proved no safe- 
retreat for the red man. That ark of 
safety had been broken. Their pretend- 
ed friends, the king's soldiers, had crept 
into their fort like cowards and left the 
Indians to escape tlie best way tliey could. 
There was a logic in all these things which 
the savage warriors could easily compre- 
hend. They saw the hopelessness of 
further contest. 

In the following spring the leading 
chiefs of the twelve principal iribes came- 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



27 



in and declared for peace and during all 
the early part of summer these chiefs 
waged a diplomatic war with Gen. Wayne 
in defense of, and to secure all their 
rights which would have done credit to 
the statesmanship of enlightened people. 
They held to every vital point affecting 
their interests with the same desperate 
tenacity with which they had fought the 
last battle of Fallen Timber. The 
treaty known ever since as the Greenville 
treaty, when signed, gave to the United 
States about three-fourths of the land in- 
cluded within the present boundaries of 
Ohio in the south and eastern part. 

The Greenville treaty line, which be- 
came important in subsequent surveys, 
and which is indicated on most Ohio 
maps, will be pretty correctly indicated 
by drawing a line from Cleveland south- 
ward to the northeast corner of Holmes 
county, thence west to the northwest 
corner of Darke connty, thience south to 
the Ohio, at the mouth of the Kentucky 
river. 

For this they were to receive annuities 
and other considerations. On the part 
of the United States, it relinquished all 
lands north and west of the Greenville 
treaty line, except sixteen blocks located 
in various places and roads thereto, 
known as United States Eeserve lands. 
The Government also held a protectorate 
right over the relinquished territory, that 
is, it agi'eed to protect the Indians and 
they agTeed not to sell their territory to 
anyone else. Among these reservations 
were the present sites of Fremont, Fort 
AA'ayne, Chicago, Detroit, Mackinaw, etc. 

One among the largest of these blocks, 
or Reserves, and the one in which we are 
more particularly interested, in this nar- 
ration, was one of twelve miles equare at 
the foot of the rapids of the Miami of 
the Lake (Maumee). This Reserve in- 
cludes both sides of the Maumee from 
the heart of the present city of Toledo to 
a point nearly three miles above where 
Waterville now is. Its southeast corner 



is the southeast corner of Ferrysburg 
township, thence north, passing through 
the city of Toledo, twelve miles, west 
twelve miles, thence south twelve miles 
(the southwest corner is near the canal 
opposite the middle of Station island), 
thence east to place of beginning. The 
south line passes a little north of Hull 
Prairie, and crosses Station Island east 
of the center. 

As Wood and Lucas counties have 
since been constructed, making the Mau- 
mee the boundary, to the east limits of 
the Reserve, AVood county has about 
two<-fifths of this 92,160 acres and Lucas 
three-fifths. This was the first land in 
what is now AA^ood county to which the 
United States had a clear title and here 
began her settlements and civilization. 

AVhy should we not award Mad 
Anthony and his hardy soldiers first hon- 
ors as pioneers with the sword and can- 
non preceding the plow and ax? At 
least they may have the honor of being 
first here in "proceedings to quiet title.'' 
How those beleaguered people, penned up 
in forts, rejoiced when they heard of 
AVayne's decisive victory on the Maumee, 
and when, a year later, news of his treaty 
of peace reached them and they knew 
they could come forth in safety, how 
their shouts went up in gladness. An 
enthusiastic chronicler of that period 
says: 

"Peace opened the garrisons, and the 
valleys of every river resounded with the 
woodman's ax. Never since the golden 
age of the poet did the siren song of peace 
reach so many ears or gladden so many 
hearts." 

In the following year, 1796, a treaty 
was ratified between England and the 
United States under which all English 
troops were withdrawn to the Canada 
side of the boimdary, thus removing an- 
other cause of dissension and distrust 
and giving Americans possession of De- 
troit. In the same year a county of 
(■nlo>;.5?il dimensions was organized, em- 



28 



THE PIONEER 



bracing what, is since jSTortheastern In- 
diana, Northwestern Ohio and the lower 
Peninsula of Michigan, and named 
Wayne, in honor of Mad Anthony, with 
Detroit as the county seat. If any white 
man had lived where Wood county is now 
and been in need of a marriage license, 
or tax receipt or wished to attend court, 
his county seat would have been Detroit. 
The latter place had been the great focus 
point in the lucrative fur trade, which 
the French, and later on the English, had 
enjoyed for many years. 

The Maumee Eapids, which was con- 
sidered at the head of navigation, was, 
next to Detroit at that time, regarded as 
the most advantageous place on the lakes. 
Bright visions of the great city yet to 
spring up here had, even then, flitted 
across the brain of many an enthusiastic 
prophet. Wayne's men had spread mar- 
velous stories of the beauty and fertility 
of the ]\Iaumee country and of the enor- 
mous catfish and muscalunge in the riv- 
ers, but always concluded their encomiums 
with an "if" it was not for the ague. 
But so long as the country remained so 
largely in possession of the Indians it 
was evident that its advancement would 
be retarded. 

In tlie meantime a large per cent of the 
immigration was locating north of the 
Ohio. The west was making history. 
Kentucky had been admitted into the 
Union and in 1803 Ohio, with a popula- 
tion of upwards of 72,000, was admitted, 
with substantially her present boundary 
limits. This new relation at once inspir- 
ed the people of Ohio with a desire to get 
the Indian title extinguished in their 
northwestern border. 

In 1805 Michigan territory was organ- 
ized and William Hull appointed Gov- 
ernor, and in the same year a treaty was 
held at Fort Industry (now Toledo), at 
which the United States purchased a 
strip of country along the south shore of 
Lake Erie about fifty miles wide, extend- 
ing from tlio ('iivahoii-a river west to a 



point on the Lake between Sandusky Bay 
and the mouth of the Portage river, cor- 
responding with the present west line of 
Huron and Erie counties, and south to 
the 41st parallel and corresponding with 
the present soutli line of Medina, Por- 
tage, Summit and Huron counties. 
This purchase formed the western part 
of what has since been known as the 
Western or Connecticut Reserve. 

This important treaty, freeing as it 
did, that fine body of land covering near- 
ly the entire Ohio front on Lake Erie, 
gave a new impetus to immigration from 
New England and New York to which 
the new territory was easy of access up 
the Lake. 

In 1807 another treaty was made at 
Detroit by which the United States ac- 
quired that block of land lying between 
the ]\Iaumee river and the Canada bor- 
der bounded east by the Lake and west 
by a line running due north from Fort 
Defiance. 

In the year following, 1808. another 
treaty was made which was the beginning 
of what has since been one of the most 
important highways in the state, the 
Maumee and Western Reserve Road. 
The tribes ceded rights of way for a 
road 120 feet wide from the foot of the 
rajn'ds to the western line of the Con- 
necticut Reserve (east line of Sandusky 
county) together with a strip of land one 
mile "^vide on each side of the road grant 
given to aid in its construction. Thus 
gradually the agencies of advancing civ- 
ilization are opening the way ahead. 

By this time Peter Navarre and a num- 
ber of other French families from De- 
troit, had located on the Bay and later 
John Anderson, a Scotch fur trader, well 
known among the Indians, had located a 
trading post at Fort Miami. Peter 
Manor, an adopted son of the Indian 
Cliiof Tondoganie, also located at the 
foot of the Rapids in 1808. 

There was at this time a growing in- 
terest in this pnrt of the IMaumee coun- 



SC HAP- BOOK. 



29 



tiy, more especially on account of the 
extensive fur trade with the Indians. 
There were then living along the Bay 
and river about eight thousand Ottawa 
Indians with some small bands of several 
other tribes who made their homes with 
the Ottawas. Considerable commerce 
was carried on by light sailing craft, 
owned mostly in Detroit, the distribution 
of goods in exchange for furs and otht-r 
forest products forming the bulk of the 
trade. 

This grew to such dimensions that in 
1810 the Governor appointed Major 
Amos Spatford Collector for the Port of 
Miami. The Major, who also served as 
Postmaster, Avas the first civil officer in 



this part of Ohio. His first quarterly 
report shows the exports for three months 
to have been $5,610.85 worth of skins 
and furs, and $30 worth of bear's grease. 
After careful research and inquiry we 
are of the belief that to Maj. Spafford 
belonged the honor of having been the 
first permanent occupant and owner of 
land in what is now Wood county — the 
first pioneer. Although the collector's 
office of the Port of ]\Iiami and the Post- 
office were on the north side of the river, 
the Major built his cabin on the south 
side, just above where Fort Meigs was 
afterward located. Like the other set- 
tlers, he became a squatter. — C. W. E. 



WAYNE'S DARING SCOUTS 



They Were the Eyes and Ears of His Army 
Welles, Miller, McClellan 
and Others 



WAYNE'S prestige as a soldier and 
his manl}^, bluff, honest nature 
drew about him the most adventurous, 
dare-devil characters on the frontier — 
men, who not only talked the Indian 
language, but in all the arts of wood 
craft, in war and hunting, excelled the 
Indians themselves. 

Such men were Wm. Welles and Hen- 
ry and Christopher Miller. Their com- 
rades in these scouting expeditions were 
Hickman, Thorpe, May, Mahaffy and 
Robt. McClellan. The latter, McClellan, 
\\as doubtless the most athletic, at least 
the most active man on foot that ever 
trod the western wilderness. No white 
man or savage could escape if McClellan 
pursued, or could overtake jMcClellan if 



he chose to flee. Old Andrew Kace, who 
was with Wayne and afterwards settlod 
on the Maumee, told of an officer at 
Greenville, who had a standing offer of a 
fine horse to any man, red or white, who 
could outspeed IMcClellan. He would 
back off a few paces and spring over a 
covered army wagon with the ease of a 
deer going over a seven-rail fence. Then 
too, in courage and endurance McClellan 
was unexcelled. 

To Wayne and his army these men 
were invaluable. They were the ears and 
eyes of his army. If he wanted informa- 
tioiT from the enemy's camp they brougnt 
it. If he wanted an Indian brought in 
alive tho\- brought him and enjoyed the 
excitement and hair-breadth escapes more 
than the dull monotony of camp. An 
account of these reckless dare-devil spies 
who accompanied Wayne, and their many 
exciting adventures would make an inter- 
esting chapter in border history, but like 
much of that historv, it has been lost. 
It had passed away forever when the act- 
ors themselves were gone. — C. W. E. 



30 



THE PIONEER 



GRAND ORGANIZATION 



The Maumee Valley Pioneer and Historical 
Association What It Has Ac- 
complished 



THE Maumee Valle}^ Pioneer Associa- 
tion was organized in 1864, and its 
first president was Gen. John E. Hnnt. 
It held annual reunions from that time 
until Sept, 10, 1909, when it was merged 
into the Maumee Valley Pioneer and 
Historical Association, which had been 
incorporated in 1902, for the purpose of 
purchasing sites and accomplishing more 
practical results than could be achieved 
under the Pioneer Association. In re- 
gard to the work of this bod}^, Mr. Evers 
says: 

It is fitting that a word of commenda- 
tion be spoken for the unselfish and de- 
voted work of the Maumee Valley Pio- 
neer and Historical Association to re- 
claim and preserve these historic grounds 
and care for the graves of those wlio per- 
ished in defense of their country. 

Some of its members have for yeai's 
lent their influence and put forth their 
best efforts in this work, at ptH-uiiiarv loss 
and often under the most (!is;ouragiiig 
circumstances. And now that their in- 
domitable efforts are being crowned with 
success, no one has more reason to rejoice 
than those faithful and indefatigable old 
workers, who for so many 3'ears have de- 
voted themselves to this lal)or of patriot- 
ism and love. 

Without these efforts Fort INIeigs would 
never have had a monument, and the 
hundreds of graves thereabouts would 
have remained unmarked in tlie pasture 
fields as they have boon in the scores of 
years that have passed away. All honoi- 
to the Association and tbcir co-workor-. 



as well as those of the Ohio Assembly, 
through whose patriotic action this tardy 
act of justice to our heroic dead was 
made possible. All honor, too, to the old 
Pioneer Association that kept alive and 
stimulated the interest in social and pa- 
triotic advancement. 

Under the incorporation and plan of 
the Maumee Valley Pioneer and Histori- 
ial Association, the purchase of the Ken- 
tucky burial ground was made possible. 
It is under tliis business-like method that 
most of the real progress has been made 
and so much has been accomplished. 
This association is still in splendid work- 
ing order, not for gain or profit (for not 
an officer receives a dollar for his ser- 
vices), but to aid in every way possible to 
jireserve and mark the historic spots in 
the Maumee Valley and to mark the 
burial places of the soldiers who laid 
down their lives in reclaiming the land 
from savagery and from the rule of kings 
in Europe. 

As such, may not this Association 
claim, without overstepping the bounds 
of modesty, this fine monument overlook- 
ing Fort Meigs and the graves of its dead, 
as one of its proud achievements? But 
there is much yet to do. Still, with the 
aid Ohio has already given, the Associa- 
li(ni expects to be able to. accomplish very 
much in the future. With these unselfish 
and worthy motives, the Association is 
most certainly entitled to public confi- 
dence and substantial support. 

The officers of the Association are : 
President, D. K. Hollenbeck, of Perrys- 
burg; Secretary, J. L. Pray, of Toledo. 
The Association holds its annual meet- 
ings in Toledo, on the 32d of February. 
'I'be Fort Meigs Commission comprises 
tlio following membership : John B. 
Wilson, Chairman ; Charles W. Shoe- 
maker, J. L. Pray, and Wm. Corlett, 
Socrotarv. 



SCK'Al'-HOOK. 



31 



WOOD COUNTY 



Its Organization in 1820 — The Counties In- 
cluded in Wood Township 
of Perrysburg 



WOOD COUNTY was organized by 
an act of the Legislature of the 
State of Ohio, passed February 12, 
18"^(), and took effect April 1, follow- 
ing. The act provided, "that all that 
part of the lands lately ceded by the 
Indians to the United States, which lies 
within this State, shall be erected into 
fotirteen counties to be bounded and 
named as follows: No. 11, to include 
all of ranges nine, ten, eleven and twelve 
north of the second township north in 
said ranges, and to run north with the 
same to the State line, and to be known 
by the name of Wood." This included 
the county of Lucas with the exception 
of two small fractions taken from the 
counties of Henry and Ottawa. The 
two counties remained united until by 
act of the Legislature passed June 20, 
1835, the county of Lucas was formed 
with the first countv-seat at Maumee 
City. 

In the formation of Lucas county all 
that part of Wood then lying north of 
the Maumee river was severed from the 
original county of Wood. The channel 
of the river thereby becoming the bound- 
ary between the counties. By the act 
providing for the original organization 
of Wood county, the counties of Han- 
cock, Henry, Putnam, Paulding and Wil- 
liams were attached to the county of 
Wood to remain until otherwise provided 
by law. At their meeting on the 4th day 
of March, 1823, the cotmty commission- 
ers organized the county, and the terri- 
tory attached to its jurisdiction into two 
townships, Waynesfield and Auglaize. 
The township of Waynesfield was made 
co-extensive with the counties of Wood 



and Hancock, and the township of Au- 
glaize included the counties of Williams, 
Putnam, Henry and Paulding. 

jMaumee City remained the seat cf 
Justice of Wood county, and the courts 
were held at that place, and the otlier 
county business was there transacted 
from the organization of the county in 
the year 1820, until the year 1823. 

By this time the settlements on the 
south side of the river at or near Perrys- 
Imig. had become so large as to require 
a separate township organization, and 
accordingly the County Commissioners 
on the 28th day of May, 1823, "ordered 
tliat so much of the township of Waynes- 
field as is included in the county of 
Wood and lying on the south side of the 
Maumee river, be set ofP and organized 
into a township by the name of Perrys- 
burg, and that the election of township 
officers be held on the 19th day of June, 
1823, at the house of Samuel Spaiford 
in said township." 

This ordtT organizing ail of the coun- 
ty of Wood south of the Maumee river 
into a townsliip, rendered the reorganiza- 
tion of a township for Hancock county, 
which up to this time had been a part 
of Waynesfield township, necessary, and 
accordingly the Commissioners organ- 
ized it into a separate township by the 
name of Findlay. And Henry countv, 
wbicli by a former order had been in- 
cltided within Auglaize township, was 
erected into a separate township by the 
name of Damascus. 



Battle at Providence, near Grand 
Rapids, battle on the site of Perrysburg, 
siege of Fort Wayne, two sieges of Ft. 
]\Ieigs. Dudley's defeat near Miami, bat- 
tle of Eiver Eaisin, defence of Ft. 
Stephenson and Perry's victory were all 
fought on or within 40 miles of the Mau- 
mee river. 



32 



THE PIONEER 



DEDICATION 



Of the Granite Monument at Fort Meigs in 
the Presence of Thousands — Inspiring 
Addresses by Representatives From 
Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Vir- 
ginia and Ohio 



THE 1st of September, 1908, will 
long be remembered by the citi- 
zens of Northwestern Ohio, On that 
day the beautiful gi-anite monument that 
now adorns Port Meigs was dedicated 
with inspiring ceremonies. The monu- 
ment rises to the height of 82 feet, anJ 
has been erected in memory of the dead 
of Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and 
Virginia, who fell in the battle around 
Fort Meigs during the war of 1812-1813. 
The Toledo Blade in its description 
of the monument and the commemorative 
exercises of that day, says it was on this 
point on the banks of the Maumee that 
the progress of the British was forever 
checked. Here the soldiers of the king, 
even when amalgamated with the savage 
hordes of the lake country, met their 
superiors. The onward march of Brit- 
ish possession was first checked, then 
halted and then put to flight. The Brit- 
ish held Detroit and from that outpost 
made strenuous effort to encroach furth- 
er and further upon the lands claimed 
by American settlers and the American 
nation. The garrison in Fort Meigs, 
and the men under Dudley, that bravo 
Kentuckian, and the troops under men 
like him, declared that the soldiers of 
the king could go no further. They 
fought, bled, and hundreds of them died, 
to uphold that proposition. The Fort 
Meigs monument says to the people of 
all the world: "This far the British 
came, further they could not go, for the 
volunteer soldiers, many of whom lie 



buried within the walls from which they 
fought, so declared." 

The Monument 

On two sides of the big shaft are | 
bronze inscriptions, and on the others 
are phrases in raised granite letters. All 
four tell of the deeds of these men who 
fought and bled to save their country 
from the English, and who, dying, were 
buried on the Fort Meigs grounds, on 
which the monument stands. 

There is nothing extravagant about 
the monument, no great figures surround 
it. It is simple; a magnificent stone 
column symbolic of the patriotic spirit 
of the people of today, and of their great 
love and gratitude for the hardy men of 
the war of 1812, who by their bravery 
and death, made it possible to erect a 
shaft in their memory on United States 
soil, instead of on a possession of the 
British. 

Tliree hundred and twenty-two tons 
of Vermont granite, the wliitest and 
purest, are in this Fort Meigs monu- 
ment, and twenty-five cars were required 
to haul the huge blocks of stone. 
Forming a foundation for it is 6,000 
cubic feet of concrete. The base of the 
shaft is 34 feet square, rising step-like 
for 16 feet, where rests the obelisk. 

The obelisk is 66 feet in height, and 
from the base it tapers from six feet 
square to four feet square near the top. 
At the tip it has been cut to a perfect 
point. In the whole are 3,778 cubic feet 
of stone. 

Fight for the Monument 

The history of the fight for the monu- 
ment is almost as interesting as the his- 
tory of the battles in commemoration of 
which it was erected, and like the history 
of the war, the story of the monument 
fight, though bloodless, contains many 
records of unselfish deeds and noble ef- 
forts. Especial honor is due to the Mau- 
mee Valley Pioneer and Historical So- 
ciety, to the Oliio General Assembly and 



S("KAP-BOOK. 



33 



to Governor Harris, for the labors (.f 
these made the magnificent shaft a pos- 
sibility. 

For years the graves of Ohio's dead 
in Fort Meigs battles were nnmarked. 
Cattle wandered over them, slowly 
munching at long grass. The burial 
ground was a pasture. The Maumee 
Valley Pioneer and Historical Associa- 
tion protested, but its protests were little 
heeded. Then, lest the shame of such 
a condition should always rest on the 
heads of the people of Ohio, the associa- 
tion members quietly bought up land 
where the dead lay. 

But the association wanted a monu- 
ment fittingly commemorating the brav- 
ery of these heroes, to grace the vicinity 
of the spots where their tired bodies lay. 
They wanted a monument that would 
properly mark in the very heart of the 
Maumee valley region, the limit of Brit- 
ish victoi*j' and the end of her encroach- 
ment upon American territory. 

So, in the Ohio Assembly a resolution 
was introduced, authorizing an appro- 
priation of $25,000 for such a shaft. It 
was pushed by Lucas and Wood county 
Senators and Eepresentatives and adopt- 
ed in 1904, but the resolution necessita- 
ted a further vote on a bill allowing the 
appropriation. The assojciation worked 
might and main in the Assembly, night 
and day. In addition to the author of 
the measure and its chief supporter, oth- 
er legislators fought for it, and Gover- 
nor Hai-ris, himself an old soldier, aided 
by suggestions and advice to the Com- 
mission. 

Successful Issue 

These efforts resulted triumphantly. 
Tlie Ohio Assembly made the appropria- 
tion in March, 1906, and Governor 
Harris at once set to work to . bring the 
monument plan to a completion. In ac- 
cordance with a provision of the biH 
granting the appropriation, July 23, 
lOOn, he appointed a commiission of 



three, J. L. Pray, of Toledo, C. W. 
Shoemaker, of Waterville, and J. B. Wil- 
son, of Bowling Green, to start the ball 
rolling. June 12, 1907, the ground on 
which the monunuent stands, consisting 
of Eiver Tracts 65 and 66, comprising 
36 acres, was purchased from the Hayes 
heirs for $10,800. October 22 of the 
same year the contract for the shaft was 
let by the commission to Lloyd Bros., 
Toledo's monument builders. 

Throughout the winter, stone cutters 
worked on the great pieces of granite, 
cutting them to proper shape and size. 
June 15 of 1908, the stone was on the 
Fort Meigs grounds. Great cranes rap- 
idly swung the blocks into place after 
the foundation of concrete had been com- 
pleted, and August 1, the last piece was 
laid. It cost $14,000, or a total, with 
the grounds, of $24,800, $200 less than 
the appropriation. 

While the stone for the shaft was be- 
ing prepared, interested ones were still 
at work in the Assembly, with the result 
that a law was enacted providing for the 
care and protection of the monument 
and grounds. By this law an additional 
appropriation of $5,000 is made, to mako 
improvements in the way of trees, fences 
and landscape work, and also to erect a 
cottage, which is now completed for the 
care taker of the grounds, and to bo 
used as the headquarters of the Commi:V 
sion.- 

Unveiling the Shaft 

In the morning a salute of four guns 
was fired by Battery B, field artillery, 
which came from Toledo the night be- 
fore to carry out the flag raising cere- 
mony. 

A beautiful day, a lavish display of 
the national colors, the numerous re- 
freshment stands and comfort tents, the 
encampment of the battery and the in- 
s]3iring scene were enjoyed by the thou- 
sands asseml)le(l from far and near. 

The feature:^ of tlie morning program 



34 



THE PIOXEER 



were the addresses of Col Bennett H. 
Young, of Louisville, Ky., who was a 
Confederate officer, and J. C. Morgan, of 
Maumee. 

Early in the afternoon, Governor Har- 
ris, of Ohio, and his party arrived, when 
a salute of seventeen guns was thunder- 
ed from the field pieces of battery B, 
under command of Captain Grant S. 
Taylor. When the bunting which draped 
the newly completed monument was 
..drawn by the hand of David Robinson, 
jr., whose father was a soldier at the 
siege of Fort ]\Ieigs, four guns of the 
ll)attery belched forth another salute and 
the band burst into patriotic music, 
which was almost drowned by the cheers 
from thousands. 

A beautiful silk flag was presented to 
the State by the Toledo National Union, 
which was run up on the 100-foot steel 
flag pole that will permanently mark the 
site of the fort, as it stands in the exact 
penter of the ancient strong works. 

Gov. Harris Presides 

The assemblage was called to order 
at 2 o'clock by J. B. Wilson, Chairman 
of the Et. Meigs Commission, followed 
by an invocation by Rev. J. P. Michaelis, 
of Maumee. 

Gov. A. L. Harris was introduced as 
president of the day, and in an address 
by Chairman Wilson the State of Ohio 
was presented with the completed monu- 
ment, through Gov. Harris, who accept- 
ed the same in a fitting reply. 

Upon the completion of the Governor's 
address, he introduced successively the 
following gentlemen, representing their 
states : 

Hon. Robert S. Murphy, Lieutenant 
Governor of Pennsylvania, on behalf of 
the Keystone State. 

Gen Bennett H. Young, of Louisville, 
representing Kentucky. 



Major Robert W. Hunter, the repre- 
sentative of Virginia. 

Hon. Joseph B. Foraker, of Cincinna- 
ti, representing Ohio. 

All of these gentlemen gave terse, 
vigorous and patriotic addresses, and if 
frequent applause by the thousands as- 
sembled is an indication, they were thor- 
oughly appreciated. 

Rev. R. D. Hollington, of Toledo, pro- 
nounced the benediction, and the patriot- 
ic exercises -were ended. 

These exercises were interspersed 
throughout with patriotic songs, render- 
ed by a choir of 75 voices from Water- 
ville, which proved to l)e a most pleas- 
ing feature, and one that was thorougli- 
ly enjoyed. 

The night previous was spent in plac- 
ing markers throughout the grounds, 
showing different points of interest at 
the Fort and its surroundings, well cal- 
culated to give those visiting the spot a 
more intelligent view of the situation 
during the memorable sieges of 1813. 
These were arranged imder the direction 
of the late C. W. Evers, well known as 
a student and expert in the pioneer his- 
tory of this section of Ohio. He had 
worked faithfully several days in assist- 
ing the Commission to get ready for the 
commemoration, and paid the penalty 
for his unselfish and patriotic enthus- 
iasm in promoting the Fort Meigs monu- 
ment project. He was taken seriously 
ill and instead of witnessing the fruition 
of his arduous labors, he passed the weary 
hours in a hospital. 

This work, so auspiciously inaugura- 
ted on that day, will, as the years go by, 
result in the further improvement of 
these grounds, and can not fail to elicit 
the interest of all the citizens of the 
Valley in its transformation to a scene 
of beauty well deserving of the memory 
of the heroic dead. 



>SC'KA1'-J'.()()K. 



CENTER TONWNSHIP 



Something of the Early Pioneer Days — Land 

Entries First Settlers and Other 

Points of Interest 



FIFTEEN years ago C. W. Evers gave 
an extended account of the early 
history of Center township^, from which 
we condense the following: 

Benjamin Cox was the first white set- 
tler in Center township. He built a cab- 
in near the Portage, on the northea.st 
quarter of section 32, now the Infirmary 
farm, in the latter part of 1837 or early 
part of 1828. Collister Haskins was 
under the impression that Cox did not 
bring his family in until 1828. Benja- 
min did not enter the land ; still we must 
not grudge him the honor of being the 
first settler, since he located and made his 
improvements with that intention, but 
after four years sold out aud moved otf. 

The First Land Entry 

His son, Joseph Cox, however, made 
the first land entry in Center, January 
13, 1831, the east half of southeast fourth 
of section 28, which, in April, 1835, lie 
sold to Joseph Russell ; the land lying on 
the Portage, three miles east of Main 
street, was for years known as the Wil- 
liam Underwood place. A daughter ol 
Benjamin Cox, Elizabeth, uiarried Jacon 
Eberly, and was among the most respect- 
ed of that galaxy of nolile pionwr wo- 
men, who, witli llieir husbands, braved 
the deprivations of l)ygone days in the 
black swam]). Another daughter, Lydia, 
'born at Findbn- in 181 ;. was, according 
to Beardsley's history, the first white 
child to see the light of day in Hancock 
county, where the same authority credils 
Cox with being the first white settle i-. 
Cox. who had performed useful military 
service in the war of 1812, was a native 
of Virginia, and seems to have possessed 
thai restlcs?; s]nrit of most of tlie old Ix);-- 



der men of that day who were never con- 
tented unless fully abreast of, or a little 
ahead of the westward advance of white 
settlements. That class usually led the 
van and blazed the way. Kobust and 
fearless, these restless, adventurous fel- 
lows, were, in a sense,' scouts for the more 
timid multitude then hastening over the 
AUeghenies, and, like the ocean spray, 
sc-attering itself in the valleys of the 
Muskingum, Scioto and the two Miamis, 
nntil in its northward and westward 
march, it had swept away the Greenville 
treaty line, advanced to and passed the 
^lanmee. 

Wrested From Savages 

That hardy class of men, the coarser, 
stronger fibre of civilization, was not only 
usofu], but absolutely indispensable. 
Their like never was before, nor can be 
again. The conditions which required 
the hard, dangerous service which thev 
performed, have passed, never to return. 
The smoother grooves and easier lines on 
which we move today demand qualifica- 
tions so varied and changed that, in our 
haste to keep up with the march, we al- 
most forget that there ever was a race 
of pioneers, our forefathers, who lived 
in cabins and, with flint-lock guns, freed 
this land from the bondage of kings and 
wrested the wilderness from the dominion 
of barbarous savages. x\ll honor to them. 
Their manhood and sterling virtues in 
life can never suffer by comparison with 
their successors. Uncrowned heroes and 
lieroines they were. Though most of 
tbem sleep in graves unmarked with stone 
or bronze, we can do them the more en- 
during honor of passing their names and 
deeds down to future generations on the 
brightest pages of our annals. Benja- 
min Cox moved to Indiana, where he 
• •Insod bis life at an advanced age. 

Built a Cabin 

Tlie next entrv in Center, after Joseph 
Cox. was tli(> nni-tbwest corner, 48 acre? 



36 



THE PIONEER 



of section 31, by Joseph A. Sargent, 
October 31, 1833, lying on Main street 
next south of the Bender road. For 
some years this tract was owned by Nancy 
Flickinger. Sargent built his cabin on 
the Avest side of the street, in Plain, 
where he also owned land. Twelve days 
later, November 1, 1832, Adam Phillips 
entered the Infirmary tract, the improve- 
ments of which he had previously bought 
of Ben Cox. 

The First Wagon 

In the following spring, April, 1833, 
Phillips brought his family, wife and six 
children, out from Stark county, coming 
by way of Fremont, then Lower Sandus- 
ky. When he got as far west as Wood- 
ville with his outfit, consisting of a wagon 
covered with boards, and drawn by two 
horses and four oxen, Phillips left the road 
and followed the Indian trail up the Por- 
tage through the wilderness to the Cox 
cabin, being the iirst man to bring a wag- 
on through on that route, now one of the 
best and most traveled roads in the coun- 
ty; he had taken the precaution to bring 
two good axmen, Jacob Phillips and 
George Hemminger, with him. The 
Phillipses were so well pleased with the lo- 
cation that Adam soon after bought more 
land. Few persons who came into Wood 
county at that early day were better suited 
to withstand the deprivations of life here 
than Adam and Catherine Phillips; both 
were rugged and determined; they were 
ambitious to have a prosperous home; 
their courage and hopes were boundless; 
everything in those first days looked 
bright; the bow of promise was great. 
Alas, how often that bow was to be over- 
cast with clouds of discouragement — of 
sickness, of destitution — almost despair; 
yet this was almost the identical experi- 
ence at one time or another, of all who 
came. Still there were few obstacles so 
great that Phillips would not find some 
way to overcome them. He was a medium 
sized, dark complexioned man with keen 



black eyes, hair long, and usually parted 
in the middle; he had a loud, clarion 
voice and though of limited education, he 
had a ready flow of language and when a 
bit excited would get off some startling 
figures of speech especially on religious 
subjects, which were always favorite 
themes with Adam. 

The End of the World 

He had a striking resemblance to some 
of the published pictures of Lorenzo Dow. 
PhillijDs was in many ways as eccentric 
as Dow, and his peculiar appearance and 
voice would attract attention in any 
crowd of men. Pages might be filled 
with incidents, both laughable and pa- 
thetic, told about him by his neighbors. 
One incident related, whether trvie or not, 
suggests how completely religious emo- 
tions took hold of him at times. It was 
at a period when the "Millerite" craze 
was being boldly promulgated, and a day 
had been fixed upon not far ahead, when 
the world was to be burned. Some of the 
zealous Millerites had been dinging the 
doctrine in Phillips' ears pretty indus- 
triously until it had to some extent be- 
come a subject of serious thought to him. 
One dark night about that time, as the 
story goes, the smoke house in the yard, 
where was stored the hams and bacon, 
took fire and the lurid glare of the rising 
flames soon flashed with blinding effect 
on Adam's bedroom window. With a 
piteous deep moan he sprang out of bed, 
shouting, "My God, Catherine, the judg- 
ment day's upon us and my soul is unpre- 
pared; call the boys," and immediately 
fell upon his knees, half asleep yet, and 
began praying so loud that no further 
fire alarm was needed. This story, en- 
joyed by none more than Adam's best 
friends, was told so often on him that it 
had doubtless like most stories, gained a 
little by the telling, but is given here in 
rather an abridged form. Phillips at 
once took a leading part in all improve- 
ments in the settlement; at every cabin 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



raising or road chopping ho was on hand have faded away in the corroding mists 
and did his part well. of time. 



A Grand Pioneer Woman 

When the great meeting was held at 
Ft. Meigs in 1840, he, with his neighbors 
cut and hauled a buckeye log as Center 
township's contribution for the log cabin 
at the fort. Of dame Phillips, his wife, 
it may truthfully be said, thai she was 
a good second to Adam in all his ^Aorthy 
eiforts. Besides the cares of a large fam- 
ily of children, she often had to feed from 
meal ground by her own hands in the 
mill, sold them by Cox, and also found 
time to do many generous deeds for her 
sick or otherwise needy neighbors. None 
went from her door unaided, if it was in 
her power to afford relief. With this 
very inadequate sketch of the Cox and 
Phillips, the two pioneer families of Cen- 
ter, it will now be in order to briefly no- 
tice some others, who came early. 

These are George Stacy, Thomas Cox, 
William DeWitt, Thomas Slight, Jr., and 
Samuel Snyder, who entered lands in 
1833. 

Joseph Ralston, Joseph Wade, John M. 
Jaques. Joseph Eussell, Henry Shively, 
Wm. Zimmerman and Adam Household- 
er, who entered lands in 1834. 

D. L. Hixon entered his land in 1835. 

John Muir and William Munn made 
their entries in 1836. 

These random notes from the land 
books, comprising but the small fraction- 
al part of the original entries and of the 
names of purchasers, are given here as 
showing who the first comers were. Most 
of tliese Imvers named became actual 
residents on their land. Other early set- 
tlers, such as the Lundys, Klopfensteins, 
Andersons and otliers, not enumerated in 
the list, no doubt bought their lands of 
second hands. The chief purpose here is 
to show who the actual beginners were — 
a task not so easy after the lapse of three 
score years, when nearly all the actors 



Survey and Organization 

Center township, originally six miles 
square, was surveyed by Samuel Holmes, 
deputy U. S. surveyor, in- 1819; that is, 
the exterior lines were made. In 1831 
the sub-divisions were run by S. Bourne. 

The county commissioners at their 
March session, 1835, granted the request 
for a township organization, under the 
name of Center, and ordered an election 
of township officers to 1)0 held, on the 
first ]\Ionday of April following, at the 
liome of Adam Phillips. At the time of 
this action. Center was a part of Portage 
and had been since June, 1833, prior to 
whicli time it liad been a part of Middle- 
ton, since that township was cut off from 
Perrysburg. When, in 1846, Webster 
was created, six sections were set off to 
that townsliip. In 1844, on petition by 
tlic residemts therein, the south half of 
section 31, Middleton, was given to Cen- 
ter. It lies at tlie northwest corner on 
the Perrysburg road, so that as now con- 
strticted, the township comprises 301,4 
sections. 

Converted into Roads 

The trails between the settlements, at 
first mere foot paths, indicated by blazed 
trees, were gradtially converted into wag- 
on trails, barely passable, by voluntary 
Utbor among those interested. Some of 
these trails eventually became permanent 
highways, since they were usually located 
on the most favorable ground for the ])ur- 
posc. The first object of the newcomer 
after his cabin was built, was to get into 
road communication with the market, 
which in this case was Perrysburg. 
There lake boats landed regularly in the 
open season. The first wagon trail in 
Center, after Hull's trail, was from Cox's 
cabin up the Portage to Haskins' trading 
]dace. The next was the Phillips wagon 
trail, along the Portage, from Woodville. 



38 



THE PIOXEER 



A MEMORABLE FOURTH 



In Which the Prosperity of Wood County 
Was the Theme 



IN commemoratiou of the completion of 
the new court house, united with the 
celebration of the national birthday anni- 
versary, the 4th of July, 1894, proved a 
day that will long be remembered by the 
thousands who participated. It was a 
day of oratory. Among other things 
Mr. A. B. Murphy said: 

"Wood county is the garden of Ohio. 

"It is unique in its history and splen- 
did in its record. It is the parent of 
many of the counties of Northwestern 
Ohio. It is rich in soil, rich in intelli- 
gence, and rich in patriotic history. It 
has been the birthplace of ideas that have 
shaken the continent, and its soil has 
drank the blood of heroes, and been con- 
secrated by the bones of patriots. It was 
here that a mighty party had its begin- 
ning. It was here that America's great- 
est leaders assembled in convention, Sw- 
ing, Harrison and Clay, and Ohio's black 
son, Tom Corwin, all of them long since 
sleeping in their graves. The children of 
this county ought to be taught that it is 
bounded on the north by Perry's Victory, 
and on the east by the home of Gibson, 
and on the south by Fort Findlay, and on 
the west by the battle ground of Meigs 
and Miami. 

"The man who cannot make an honest 
living here cannot do so anywhere upon 
this round globe. This county is greater 
in extent than any one of those famous 
states of ancient Greece. It comprises 
more territory than Christ walked over 
while on earth, and has more inhabitants 
than that Sacred City over which He 
wept. It is greater in resource, and rich- 
er in fertility and more splendid in pro- 
duction than the Holy Land seen in the 
beatific dreams and visions of the proph- 
ets, and promised l)y Jclmvnlt to the He- 



brew Patriarchs of old. It has been re- 
deemed by sweat and toil from the woods 
and the water. It has arisen as all 
things worth having arise, by conflict and 
sacrifice. Every achievement in this 
world represents sacrifice somewhere." 

An extract from the address of Hon. 
B. F. James follows: 

"With what loyalty and devotion such 
a county should be cherished. 

"Young men, study more thoroughly 
the history of your county; ascertain the 
steps in its great growth; study the pre- 
cepts that actuated its founders and de- 
fenders; let it inculcate in your young 
minds and hearts a deeper love of coun- 
try, law and liberty; surely it will instill 
within you ideas of loyalty and the re- 
sponsibilities of citizenship, ^lay the 
summit of that new edifice tower no 
higher than your worth; may its founda- 
tions be no firmer than your convictions 
and truth ; may the green and fertile soil 
of this great county, on whose bosom it 
reposes, and which gi'ows great liarvests, 
be no richer than your long and lofty 
labors in the service of your country and 
mankind. Then are vou assured a fame 
which, mid the shadows of a century, will 
suffer no eclipse." 

That matchless orator and loyal sol- 
dier, Gen. Wm. H. Gibson, graced the 
occasion with one of his masterly efforts. 
Among many other good things lie used 
this language: 

"This county was taken from the civil 
jurisdiction of Logan and at its organiza- 
tion in 1820, its area covered more terri- 
tory than many of the European kingdoms. 
It contained less than five hundred peo- 
ple, and in 1830 eleven hundred, in 1840 
less than six thousand, and in 1850 scarce 
ten thousand. For thirty years its pro- 
gress was slow, and in 1860 the ])opula- 
tion was little over seventeen thousand. 
Though the savages were harmless and 
the frontiers were not disturl)ed by 'war's 
dread alarm,' the pioneer settlers in your 
county were confronted with hardships 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



39 



and privations from which the stoutest 
hearts might recoil. No portion of Ohio 
presented such difficulties in its develop- 
ment. The adventurous men who came 
hither with their families to reclaim the 
flooded forests and water-soaked prairies, 
and rear their children, were and are the 
real heroes, entitled to our gratitude and 
admiration. 

"In war, the imposing pageantry of 
field evolution, the touch of elbows with 
comrades and the shout of battle thrill 
the soldier with confident enthusiasm, 
and he plunges into the deadly conflict 
heedless of all danger. But the Wood 
county pioneer, remote from neighbors, 
toiling to open a farm in the wilderness 



and support and educate his children, 
exhibited a fortitude and heroism sub- 
lime for high purposes and manliness. 
A remnant of those rugged adventurers, 
who led the way in reclaiming 'the wil- 
derness and solitary places' of ycur coun- 
ty, have been spared to join in this great 
demonstration and share the festivities of 
this auspicious day. We greet them as 
winning heroes, who have earned the 
gratitude of coming generations! 

"With bent forms and blistered hands 
they planned and toiled, that this county 
inight be gilded with inviting homes; en- 
riched by abundant harvests, and senti- 
neled with churches and school houses." 



THE PITTSBURG BLUES 



Complete List of Those Who Are Buried at 
Fort Meigs 



THE following list of the members 
of the Pittsburg Blues, obtained 
through a Patriotic Pennsylvania Soci- 
ety, by the eftorts of Mrs. Ellen Mc- 
Mahan Gaspers, was published in the 
Wood County Denuocrat of April 18, 
1902. The Democrat says: 

At last an authentic list of "The Pitts- 
burg Blues,"' who lie buried at Fort 
]\teigs, has been obtained through the 
efforts of the society known as "The 
Wives and Daughters of the Boys in 
Blue,'' of which Mrs. Ellen McMahan 
Gaspers of Detroit, formerly of Perrys- 
burg, is president. Mrs. Gaspers wrote 
the mayor of Pittsburg for information 
as to this list. This letter was referred 
to Mrs. Felicia R. Johnson, president of 
the Pennsylvania society, U. S. D., 1812, 
and vice president of the national society, 
who secured what the Wives and Daugh- 
ters of the Boys in Blue consider a price- 
less list. 



It contains the names of volunteers 
famous as "The Pittsburg Blues," who 
fought under General Harrison. One of 
the three burial grounds at Ft. Meigs 
was assigned to the noted Blues, and 
there lie buried the remains of those who 
were killed in battle. 

Here is the list of "The Pittsburg 
Blues," buried at Fort ^leigs, as furnish- 
ed by Mrs. Johnson : 

James Butler, Captain. 
Mathew McGee, Lieutenant. 
James Irwin, Ensign. 
E. Trovills, First Sergeant. 
J. Williams, Second Sergeant. 
J. Willock, Third Sergeant, 
G. Haven, Fourth Sergeant. 
IsT. Patterson, First Corporal. 
J. Benney, Second Corporal. 
S. Elliott, Third Corporal. 
J. Eead, Fourth Corporal. 



Privates 



E. Allison, 
D. C. Boss, 

J. Chess, 
Clark, 
J. Davis, 
J. D. Davis, 



R. McXeal, 
J. McMasters, 
N". Matthews, 
J. Maxwell, 
J. Marcy, 
P. Xeviile, 



40 



THE riONKEK 



J. Deal, 
T. Dobbins, 
J. Dodd, 
A. Deemer, 
J. Elliott, 
A. English, 



J . Xewman, 
E. Pratt, 
J. Pollard, 
(*. Pontland, 
M. Parker, 
.!. Park, 



X. Fairfield, F. Kicards, 

S. Grraham, W. Richardson, 

H. Hull, W. Richards, 

Samuel Jones, (1. X. Robinson, 

J. Lewis, S. Swift, 

P. Leorlon, \. Thompson, 

F. Lonsong X. Yernon, 

X. M. McGiffin, ('. Widner, 
0. McKee, ,1. Watt, 

T. McClarnin, ( '. Wohrendorff, 

George ]\IcFall. (i. Wilkins. 
Mrs. Johnson, in writing Mrs. Gaspers 
inclosing the above list, sa3's in part: 

''M}^ own grandfather served under 
General Croghan and was with him at 
Fort Stephenson, and I presume at Forr 
Meigs, so my interest is personal as well 
as patriotic. 

''This societ}^ which I represent, is com- 



posed of tbe descendants of the soldiers 
of 1812, and we will be glad to co-operate 
with you in any effort to preserve the 
battlefields tbat liave become resting 
places of those who preserved the inde- 
pendence of the nation. 

"We have a society in Ohio — Mrs. 
Greves, of Cincinnati, is president. I do 
not know how they are working as they 
are rather new in organization, but will 
M'rite them to help you if needed." 

Tins letter is very gratifying to the 
Maumee Valley Pioneer and Historical 
Association, organized for the purpos<^ of 
preserving tlie historical sites of the Mau- 
mee Valley. In this connection it should 
be said that the Toledo society of the 
"Daughters of the American Eevolution" 
is co-operating with the Maunyee Vallev 
]-*ioneer and Historical Association in its 
cftorts to preserve the historical sites of 
the ]\raumee Valley, and that matters 
liave now begun to- take definite form. It 
is now believed that the objects of this 
association will be accomplisbed. 



PETERSBURG VOLUNTEERS 



These^Virginian Heroes Honored by a Granite 
Monument at Petersburg, Va. 



DUKING the preparation of this 
Pioneer Scraij-Book-, an interest- 
ing and valuable letter was received by 
Wm. Corlett, Secretary of the Maumee 
Valley Pioneer and Historical Associa- 
tion, from Wm. M. Jones, Mayor of 
Petersburg, Virginia, in which the writer 
gives historical facts concerning a com- 
pany of Virginia soldiers who fought 
under General William Henry Harrison 
in the war of 1813-13, and who were 
active in the defense of Fort Meigs and 
the Maumee Valley against the combined 



force of British and Indians. This is 
the first time a full roster of the officers 
and privates has been made known in 
tlie Maumee Valley. 

Mayor Jones says that the Virginia 
company raised in Petersburg to assist 
in the defense of the Maumee Valley was 
composed of some of the fiower of that 
state, and that the city of Petersburg 
erected a monument to their memory 
in the local cemetery, consisting of a 
granite shaft about 15 or 20 feet high, 
surmounted by a gilt American eagle, 
and on which is inscribed the following: 

"Tribute to Patriotism" 

"In memory of Captain Richard Mc- 
Rae, late commander of the Petersburg- 
Canada volunteers in the war with Great 
Britain. 1812, a corps who, under the 



SCEAP-HOoi 



41 











GRANITE MONUMENT 

To Petersburg Volunteers at Petersburg, Va. 



iinflucnce of holy patriotism, in the hour 
■of their country's need, leaped from their 
■downy l)eds and, foregoing domestic com- 
forts and ease, instantly organized and 
took up the line of march for the Cana- 
dian frontier, when, under the supreme 
command of General Harrison, they met 
the disciplined armies of their country's 
enemies, on the fifth day of May, 1813, 
•and after a hloodv conflict defeated 



tli(ni. winning for their home the exalt- 
ed and imperishable appellation of the 
•('oi-kade City of the Union.' " 
A second inscription is a? follows: 

"Petersburg Vo'unte.rs" 

''Who embarked in the service of tiieir 
country in the war of 1813 with Great 
Britain, on the 31st of October, 1813, 
and consecrated their valor at the battle 



42 



THE PIONEER. 



of Fort Meigs, May 5, 1813 — command- 
ed by Capt. Richard McRae. 

''Lieutenants — William Tisdale, Hen- 
ry Gary, Shirly Tisdale. 

"Sergeants — James Stevens, Robert B. 
Cook, Samuel Stevens, John Henderson, 

"Corporals — M. B. Spatswood, John 
Perry, Joseph Scott, Thomas Gr. Scott, 
Joseph G. Noble, G. T. Clough. 

"Musicians — Daniel Eshon, James 
Jackson. 



'Privates" 



Andrew Andrews, 
Richard Adams, 
John Bignall, 
Richard H. Branch, 
Thomas B. Bigger, 
Robert Black, 
Benjamin Pegram, 
Thomas W. Perry, 
Daniel Booker, 
George Booker, 
Joseph R. Burtley, 
John W. Burtley, 
Edmund Brown, 
Edward Mumford, 
Reuben Clemments, 
Moses Clemments, 
James Chalmers, 
Edward Chensworth, 
James Cabaniss, 
Edward H. Cogbill, 
John H. Saunders, 
AVilliam P. Rawlings, 
Herbert C. Lafton, 
Benjamin Lawson, 
Alfred Loraine, 
George P. Layburn, 
William R. Leigh, 
Benjamin Middleton, 
Nicholas Mansenbury, 
On the south face 
are the following: 



David Mann, 
Anthony Mullen, 
Ikozer Mallory, 
.Joseph Mason, 
Thomas Clark, 
Samuel Miles, 
James Page, 
elames Peterson, 
h'iehard Pool, 
George Burge, 
William Burton, 
John Potter, 
John Rawlings, 
George IJichards, 
William Lacy, 
William Lanier, 
John Shore, 
John Shelton, 
Richard Sharp, 
John H. Smith, 
John Spwalt, 
Robert Stevens, 
Ezra Stith, 
James Jeffers, 
Daniel Worsham, 
Samuel Williams, 
James Williams, 
John F. Wiley, 
David Williams, 
of the monument 



"General Orders" 

"Headquarters District, 17th Oct., 1813. 
"The term of service for which the 
Petersburg volunteers were engaged hav- 
ing expired, they are permitted to com- 



mence llu'ir march lo \'irginia as soon 
as they can be transferred to the south, 
side of the lake, in granting a discharge 
to this patriotic and gallant corps, the 
general feels at a loss for words adequate 
to convey his sense of their exalted 
merits. Almo.st exclusively composed of 
individuals who had been nursed in the 
lap of ease, they have for twelve months- 
borne the hardships and privations of 
military life, in the midst of an inhospit- 
able wilderness, with an alacrity which 
has been unsurpassed. Their conduct in 
tlie field has been surpassed by no other 
corps, and wliilst in camp they have set 
an example of subordination and respect 
for military authority to the whole army. 

"The general requests Capt. McRae,. 
his subalterns, non-commissioned officers 
and privates to accept his warmest 
thanks, and bids them an affectionate 
farewell. 

"By command of 

"William Henry Harrison. 

"Robert Butler. 

"Acting Assistant Adjutant General."" 



Edward Tiffin was the first Governor 
of Oliio and served from 1803 to 1807. 
From 1803 to 1810 the seat of govern- 
ment was at Chillicothe; from 1810 to 
1812 in Zanesville, and from 1812 to- 
1816 in Chillicothe again; Columbus be- 
came the capital in 1816. 

A man named Samuel Charter, living: 
on the Foote farm, went to Girty's Is- 
land to make sugar. On his return, . 
somewhere near Defiance he appropriat- 
ed a grindstone and put it in his pirogue 
with the sugar. He was followed and- 
his place searched, but no stone could be- 
found. Many years afterward the stone 
was fou]ul in a dense thicket about 
forty rods from his cabin. 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



43 



SHIBNAH SPINK 



Interesting Sketch of One of the Most Active 
of Wood County Pioneers 



FEOM a lengthy sketch by C. W. Evers 
of the career of Shibnah Spink, 
who lived in Perrysburg, we condense as 
follows : 

Shibnah Sjiink of Perrysburg, was one 
of the early settlers of the county, whose 
life has been so largely connected with 
the general history of this county that a 
sketcli of the same must prove valuable 
as a contribution to the history of this 
secti(«i of the county. 

Mr. Spink was born in Berkshire 
county, Massachusetts, in Feliniar}', 1802, 
where he remained until 1811, when his 
father removed to Chautauqua county, 
New York. 

In 1836, young Spink, having grown 
to manhood, went to Pennsylvania and 
took a contract on the Pennsylvania 
Canal, where he remained about two 
years, at the end of which time he went 
to Wooster, this State, where he remain- 
ed until 1832, at which time he came to 
Perrysburg. At the latter place he open- 
ed a dry goods, grocery and hardware 
store, but the crash of 1836-'37 caught 
him unprepared for such an emergency 
and he retired from business. From 1837 
to 1850 he was chiefly employed in run- 
ning a steamboat during the summer 
and in purchasing furs during the win- 
ter. 

In the summer of 1834, Mr. Addison 
Smith, then unmarried, came to Perrys- 
burg to visit his sister, Mrs. Dustin. Mr. 
Spink's clerk in the store became fright- 
ened on account of the number of In- 
dians encamped near the store and left, 
leaving Mr. Spink alone in his business 
suffering with the ague. Mr. Smith was 
in the habit of spending much of his 
time in the store and when Mr. Spink 



was too ill to wait upon customers, would 
go behind the counter and play the role 
of clerk. Finally he consented to act as 
clerk for Mr. Spink, and remained in 
the store several years. In the fall of 
that year Mr. Smith's sister, Mary A., 
came to Perrysburg to visit her brother 
and sister, remaining through the win- 
ter and the following summer. During 
tliis time, the friendship between Miss 
Smith and Mr. Spink ripened into love, 
and in the fall of 1835 they were mar- 
ried; and it is seldom that two more con- 
genial spirits spend life together. 

The Stone Road 

In the winter of 1837-38 the old mud 
pike through the Black Swamp was so 
completely worn out and so impassable 
for loaded teams that a movement was 
made for the construction of a macadam- 
ized road from Lower Sandusky (now 
Fremjont) to Perrysburg. Jessup W. 
Scott, Capt. David Wilkinson, John C. 
Spink, and Shibnah Spink, were select- 
ed to visit the Legislature at Columbus, 
and secure such assistance from the State 
as would insure the construction of the 
desired and much needed road. 

They went in a carriage. As there 
liad been a fall of snow and the ground 
was frozen they found the roads good 
and made the trip to the State Capital 
in three days. After remaining at Co- 
lumbus a few days and being satisfied 
that the measure proposed would pass, 
Capt. Wilkinson and Shibnah Spink de- 
cided to return home, leaving their two 
companions at Columbus to see the meas- 
ure through. On the day on which they 
started for home, the weather became 
warm and rain set in, rendering the roads 
almost impassable. On the evening of 
the sixth day after leaving Columbus, 
the two lobbyists reached home, in a sad- 
ly dilapidated condition, on foot, having 
left their carriage and baggage eight 
miiles this side of Lower Sandusky. TJs- 
in^ their blankets for saddles they 



44 



THE PIONEER 



mounted the horses and rode until they 
reached Toussaint Creek, which stream 
they found so swollen that it was im- 
possible to get their horses to the bridge 
spanning the channel. The whole coun- 
try was flooded. They put up for the 
night, and as the weather became cold, 
and there was little or no current in the 
A'ast sea of water Ijefore them, ice was 
formed of such thickness that in the 
morning it woukl bear a man. They 
were fully thirteen miles from home and 
the Captain was a cripple ; but they de- 
cided to make the balance of their journey 
on foot. After breakfast the two men 
started, but before going far the Captain 
gave out and they were compelled to hire 
a boy and pony to bring him in. Mr. 
Spink walked the entire distance, reach- 
ing home with only the whip and the 
clothes on his back as representatives of 
the entire outfit of the Columbus party. 

Mere of Pioneer Hardships 

Another incident illustrative of pioneer 
life in this section of the country, oc- 
curred at an earlier date than the fore- 
going one. In the spring of 1833, Mr. 
Spink started out in search of cows, milk 
being in demand at Perrysburg. He 
was gone for three days through the 
country overcoming many obstacles and 
making a circuit that now could be ac- 
complished in a few hours. 

In 1839 Mr. Spink was in the employ 
of Judge John Hollister, who at that 
time owned a line of steamboats which 
ran between Pen-ysburg and Buffalo, and 
also transacted a large business as agent 
for the American Fur Company. Mr. 
S]nnk Avas master of the General Vance. 
As there were no railroads in those days, 
the lakes were the gi-eat commercial high- 
ways and boats ran as long as the river 
was open. On returning from his last 
trip that fall, after having been absent 
from his family nearly all of the season, 
he went into Hollister's store in the 
evening happy with the thought that he 



should have a little rest and enjoy the 
comforts of home, but was told tliat they 
wanted him to start the next morning for 
southwestern Indiana in the interest of 
the fur company — that somebody must 
go, and that he was the only person who 
could fill the bill. Hard as was this task 
and great as was his disappointment, Mr. 
Spink consented to go, and after remain- 
ing with his family over night, he and 
B. F. Hollister mounted their horses and 
started on the journey. The distance t) 
be traveled was four hundred miles, and 
they made it in eight days, averaging 
fifty miles per day. 

Mr. Spink remained in southern In- 
diana, buying furs and skins until the 
first of June, v^hen, being an earnest 
Whig, he hast-ened to the monster gath- 
ering at Ft. Meigs in 1840. Although 
suffering from ague he made the trip in 
good time. 

His First Public Office 

In 1850, when General Taylor was 
President and General G. A. Jones, of 
Mount Vernon, was U. S. Marshal of 
Ohio, Mr. Spink was appointed Deputy 
^larshal. His duties required him to 
\-isit every house in the county for the 
]»urpose of taking the census. In 1830, 
v>hen Wood county embraced what is 
now Lucas county, and also a portion of 
Fulton county, the entire population was 
less than 2,090, but in 1850 Mr. Spink 
found nearly ten thousand persons liv- 
ing within the present limits of this 
eounty. 

Elected Sheriff 

In this year Mr. Spink was elected 
Sheriff of Wood county. The county 
was strongly Democratic in politics, but 
his personal popularity secured success. 
About this time many leading Democrats 
becajne tinctured with free soil senti- 
ments, and when the Missouri comprom- 
ise measures were adopted by Congress, 
manv of them joined with the Whigs, 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



-L5 



and the count}' finally passed into the 
hands of the Whigs, and since the organ- 
ization of the Republican party has been 
strongly Republican. Mr. Spink contrib- 
uted largely to these results. An en- 
thusiastic partisan, liberal in his views, 
and genial in his manners, he was always 
at work and none could accomplish more. 
At that time the entire fees of the Sher- 
iff's office for two years did not amount 
to over $500 — $100 of which was receiv- 
ed in cash and the balance mostly was 
ne\'er collected. 

Beaten for Treasurer 

At the next election after his success- 
ful canvass for Sheriff, Mr. Spink was 
nominated for County Treasurer l)y the 
Whigs. At that time John Bates was 
the strong wheel-horse of the Wood 
county Democrats, and he was Mr. 
Spink's opponent. Bates was treasurer 
for a number of years and it was be- 
lieved that he could neither be beaten in 
convention nor at the polls. Spink was 
equall}^ strong with the Whigs, and the 
county was Democratic by about 300 ma- 
jority. When the votes were counted it 
was found that Bates had but barely nine 
majority. 

Elected Treasurer 

When the time came for the election 



of Treasurer again, tJie Whigs nominated 
Mr. Spink. The Democrats were a lit- 
tle afraid to put forward John Bates for 
another trial with Spink, so they nomi- 
nated Samuel Cliilcote. who, it was suj)- 
posed, could carry more votes than any 
other Democrat in the county. Chil- 
cote was in every respect a most worthy 
man, but Spink beat him and was re- 
elected, serving four years in that office. 
Plis natural desire to accomlinodate the 
people, which often led him to advance 
the taxes for men throughout the count}', 
and his well known integrity secured for 
him a degree of popularity with the pub- 
lic which is seldom enjoyed by persons 
so active in political work and so decided 
in partisan convictions. 

Other Offices Filled 

In 1862, under the Internal Revenue 
laws, Mr. Spink was appointed Deputy 
Assessor, a position which he filled in a 
creditable manner for two years, when 
the office was abolished. After this he 
turned his attciitidii to farming, until 
1871, when he was appointed Superin- 
tendent of .the Western Reserve & Mau- 
mee Road, a position which he filled for 
nine montlis, after which he continued 
his residence in Perrysburg and for many 
years enjoyed the confidence and esteem 
of all who knew him. 



A JAIL IN THE WOODS 



Its Builder^How Sheriff John Webb Kept 

Prisoners It Stood in a Dense 

Thicket 



FEW of the dwellers in Wood county 
today will remember the old wood- 
en jail at Perr}'sburg, indeed, we doubt if 
there are many who knew of its existence. 



It was built many years ago at a cost of 
$■486, and the contractors took part of 
their pay in Perrysburg town lots at $13 
each. It was made of square oak logs, 
cut mostly on the present corporation 
limits of Perrysburg and served its pur- 
pose as well, and was as much a terror 
to evil doers as are the costly structures 
of stone, iron and brick of the present 
day. Wood county's population was 
then less than two hundred human souls. 
The projectors of that jail were no doubt 



46 



THE PIOXEER 



aware of the fact there was but little in 
the county at that time to steal, and that 
where there is no temptation there are 
apt to be fewer rogues. This primitive 
structure served as a calaboose for the 
confinement of some of the frisky veteran 
volunteers in the Michigan war, who at 
times indulged too freely in Maumee ague 
medicine and then got boisterous. It 
was located on Front street near the old 
Exchange Hotel. 

Sheriff John AVebb had charge of the 
jail, at the time George Porter was im- 
prisoned in it, in 1830; it stood alone in a 
dense thicket, the brush and timber hav- 
ing been cleared away only far enough to 
admit the teams tliat liaulcd the jail tim- 
bers. The fine macadamized road now 
known as Front street, was only a tor- 
tuous wagon track between trees and 
stumps. There was no building near 
except the log court house. Mr. Webb 
lived in a little house up the river near 
the bayou nearly or quite half a mile 
from the jail, and during Porter's im- 
prisonment Mr. Webb carried him his 
meals to his dismal cell in the thicket 
three times a day, and at night locked 
him in his cell and went home. Such 
an arrangement would not in these jail 
breaking times be regarded as entirely 



safe, but people in those days did as peo- 
ple do now, made the best of the means 
they had. 

In 1823, after the county seat was 
removed from Maumee, "Uncle" Guy 
bearing took the contract for removing 
the little log jail from Maumee for $45. 
In 1824 Nearing and Hubbell took the 
contract of building a court house, also 
for repairing the jail, which was further 
enlarged in 1826, or '27 by him and 
Elisha Martindale, though they were not 
tlie contractors, Wearing at that time be- 
ing a county commissioner. The jail, as 
lu-eviously mentioned, was built two sto- 
ries high, of logs about a foot square, se- 
cured at the ends by tenons and mortises 
with a wooden pin through. The floors 
were of the same solid square timber. 
The windows were but little more than 
long cracks where the halves of two logs 
had been taken out and perpendicular 
iron bolts passed through for security. 
I'here were two dark cells also made of 
strong solid square timber. The doors 
wore rude massive wooden structures well 
spiked with wrought nails and swung on 
strong iron hinges. The roof, gables and 
general exterior of the building appeared 
similar to any hewed log cabin. — C. W. 
E. 



OLD TIME TRAGEDY. 



Atrocious Murder of Summundewat, One of 

the Most Noble Chiefs of the 

Wyandots 



IN" his Log Cabin sketches Mr. Evers 
gives the following description of the 
murder of Summundewat, a Wyandot 
chief : 

During the autumn of the year 1845, 
Summundewat, a Wyandot chief from 
the Sandusky Plains, with his daughter, 
her husband, seven ponies, two colts, and 



five dogs, passed through Portage town- 
si lip on their way to Turkey foot, Henry 
county, on their annual fall hunt, and 
slopped a day or so in Portage town- 
ship. While here they visited Jacob 
Eberly's blacksmith shop on the Portage 
river, one mile below the present village 
of Portage, for the purpose of getting a 
knife and hatchet made, and a gun-sight 
repaired. 

In the employ of Eberly was a young 
man named John Anderson, who was 
quite intimate with and kept the company 
of one James Lyons, who lived with his 
widowed mother, on the middle branch 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



■of the Portage. La'oiis, who was consid- 
erably okler than x4.nderson, possessed all 
the elements of character for a desperado 
of the worst type, and dark suspicions 
rested on him of counterfeiting and other 
•deviltries. 

The Indians had with them two excel- 
lent coon dogs, either of which could 
scent a coon tree without the trouble of 
tracking the animal on the ground. Dur- 
ing the visits of the Indians at Eberly's 
shop, Lyons had tried to buy or trade for 
these dogs, which ho coveted very much, 
but without success. Lyons and Ander- 
son both visited the camp of Summunde- 
wat, and by some means learned that the 
party had some money. 

Shortly after the Indians left for 
Turkeyfoot, where they were to join an- 
other party from the Plains in a hunt. 
The old chief and his little party had 
not been gone long, when Lyons and An- 
derson also left. Not many days after 
■one of these men while passing down the 
river was noticed to have with him 
Summundewat's coon dogs. 

Old Benjamin Cox, who was familiar 
i\dth Indian habits, and could speak their 
language, remarked when he saw the dogs 
that they must have been coaxed away, 
as no Indian would sell his dogs at the 
beginning of the hunting season. 

Not many days elapsed before a start- 
ling rumor reached the settlement that 
Summundewat, the Indian preacher, and 
all his party had been murdered, and on 
the following Sunday, Avhile the few scat- 
tering settlers along the river were as- 
sembled at quiet worship at a little log 
school house where now is the town of 
Portage, a party of Indians accompanied 
by a white trader from the Plains, and 
led by a chief called Snake-bones, made 
their appearance, causing a sensation and 
no little anxiety among the settlers. 

Anderson Seized and Bound 

After a brief halt and short parley 
amonir themselves, and a few remarks 



with a man whom they met, the Indians 
marched directly to the school house 
which they quietly and almost unper- 
cH'ived, surrounded. 

Anderson, who was in the school house, 
was almost the first man to discover the 
dusky red men at the door, and divinad 
their purpose in an instant. He grew 
deadly pale and shook as if awakening 
from a dream of horror. The chief 
singled out the guilty man whom he had 
never seen before, with that unerring 
certainty with which a dog tells his mas- 
ter. Anderson was seized and bound. 
At that same moment, unconscious of 
las danger (but with a presentiment as 
he afterward told, that for three days 
and nights somebody or some shadow 
was pursuing him), Lyons was one mile 
below on the river at Jacob Eberly's 
shop, trying to induce him to shoe his 
mare, a splendid race mare, the fleetest 
in the country, which Eberly did not care 
to do as it was Sunday. Lyons presently 
left and passed down the river to where 
Anderson lived, and waited some time for 
his return, but of course waited in vain. 

The settlers after learning of the ter- 
rible murder that had been committed, 
and that the blood-stained perpetrators 
were from their midst, became excited 
almost to frenzy. Not only because of 
the cruel and revolting nature of the 
tragedy, but because it exposed them to 
the fury and revenge of the exasperated 
red men, and as may well be supposed 
gave every assistance in their power to 
give the offenders over to the law, in 
order that their punishment might ap- 
pease the wrath of the savages. 

Avenging Indians 

Snake-bones had learned where Lyons 
lived and thither he led his party, and 
with that unerring certainty which had 
enabled him to follow the footsteps of 
Lyons and Anderson, from the scene of 
the tragedy on Turkeyfoot to Haskins 
settlement throuofh unbroken forests and 



48 



THE PIONEER 



pathless prairies, and which seems ahiiost 
an intuition, lie soon revealed in that 
secluded cabin the evidences of terrible 
guilt. Mrs. Lyons lay on the bed feign- 
ing sickness. The chief made a brief 
survey of the cabin, and, stooping lifted 
a puncheon from the floor, and the two 
coon dogs sprung forth. He lifted the 
bed clothing and beheld the bloody 
blankets of the ill-fated Summundewat. 
The white spectators stood mute and 
aghast. In another place they found the 
jerked venison and furs concealed, and 
near by the ponies. They then retired; 
a short parley followed, and that night 
a cordon of pickets guarded that lonely 
cabin. Twice the two sisters of Lyons 
attempted to pass that line to warn their 
guilty brother — twice they were sent back. 
Long after the shades of night had 
gathered over all and nothing disturbed 
the silence except the hum of the beetle 
or the song of the katydid, a horseman 
was heard approaching, and the rider, 
Jim Lyons, all unconscious of danger 
entered the cabin. 

Lyons Captured 

Scarcely had the door closed on his 
back ere the wary footsteps of the Wyan- 
dot chief were heard on the threshold, 
and all of Lyons efforts to get his favor- 
ite race mare were unavailing. She 
would have distanced all pursurers. She 
was his tried and trusted friend in case 
of apprehension or pursuit for crime. 
No telegraph or railways then to out 
speed her. But no — he was a prisoner, 
his wily captors gave him no chance of 
escape. He was bound hand and foot, 
and, with Anderson, lodged in the jail at 
Napoleon, the crime having been commit- 
ted just within the Henry county line. 
The jail was a log building, and shortly 
after, Lyons, Anderson, and an Irishman 
confined on charge of murder, all escap- 
ed. Anderson was afterwards through 
the influence of friends, induced to give 
himself up, under promise that he would 



turn state's evidence. This was done un- 
der the belief by the settlers that there 
was another and third party implicated 
in the crime, of whose dangerous pres- 
ence they desired to rid themselves. 

And now, reader, would you like to 
hear a recital of this dark deed of blood 
which even at this distant day makes one 
shudder? If so, follow us through the 

Confession of John Anderson 

As has just been stated, suspicion rest- 
ed on a third party. That man was 
John Ellsworth, who owned and lived on 
the farm now belonging to John Z. 
Smith, in Liberty township. The con- 
fession of young Anderson more than 
confinned their worst suspicion. This 
Ellsworth, who was a little past the 
prime of life, was one of the most dan- 
gerous men of his time — a man who 
with a certain class of people could gain 
a strong influence, capable of strong 
friendship when it suited his purpose. 
Though professedly ignorant — so much 
so that he never while here, was known 
to write his owai name or read a sentence, 
and yet he was one of the best educated 
of mien. It is said that he had, before 
lie removed to the depths of the Black 
Swamp, saved himself from the peniten- 
tiar}^ on a charge of forgery by proving 
l)y bribed witnesses that he could neither 
read nor write, and in this state of ig- 
norance he remained to the world about 
liim, to the last day of his residence in 
Wood county. 

A Polished Villain 

But long after, when all old scores 
were outlaw^ed, we hear of his occupying 
the Judge's bench in one of the Western 
States, to which he emigrated, and to 
which position he was elected. He was 
of fine address and plausible demeanor, 
yet no man more cunning in devising 
deep laid plots of deviltry and crime, 
and at the same time keeping his own 
skirts clear of the consequences. He was 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



49 



several times apprehended and impris- 
oned, but each time managed to break 
jail and get the damaging testimony dis- 
posed of, and in somie way escape the law, 
while those of whom he had made tools 
would sufEer the severe penalty. In fact 
he was supposed to be at tlie head of a 
gang of counterfeitors, horse thieves and 
robbers. The route of the Indians to 
Turkeyfoot led a little north of where 
Ellsworth lived. 

Anderson stated that he and Lyons 
followed the trail until they got in the 
vicinity of where Ellsworth lived when 
they went to see him. 

As soon as he learned that the Indians 
had money, he volunteered to go along 
with them, and during the journey he 

Planned the Murder and Robbery 

But when they reached a point near 
the Indians he suddenly stopped and 
said, "Boys, I can go no further. I am 
already resting under suspicion, and if 
this job is done, I will be the first man 
called upon to prove my whereabouts. I 
will go back and keep watch of matters 
until you return with the plunder, which 
is now to be had for the taking." Ells- 
worth went home and Lyons and Ander- 
son went to the camp of the Indians, 
where they were well treated. The In- 
dians, said Anderson, seemed to be sus- 
picious of some impending evil. They 
were wakeful and restless at night, so 
much so that no opportunity offered to 
take their lives, until finally on the third 
day, under pretext of trying to find the 
other party of Indians, they broke up 
camp and moved about two miles; well 
had it been for them had they never 
stopped until they had found the other 
]iarty. 

Lyons and Anderson followed at a 
distance, blazing trees as they went, 
niiirking the route. 

That night they again made their ap- 
pearance at the Indian camp, pretending 
to be lost, tired and hungry. They were 



kindly received, and the poor woman 
busied herself in getting them something 
to eat, and spreading some blankets for 
their bed. 

By previous arrangement, Lyons was 
to kill Summundewat and Anderson was 
to kill the husband of the woman and 
then dispatch the woman. The Indians 
had been broken of their rest so much 
tliat sleep soon overcame them. 

A Crime of Horror 

At a prearranged signal, each of the 
vi'hite men sunk his hatchet in the head 
of the sleeping men. The poor woman 
sprang to her feet and implored Ander- 
son's mercy in such pitiful terms, that 
he hesitated. Humanity had not entire- 
ly forsaken his breast; his arm faltered. 
Said he, I could not strike that woman 
who had treated us so kindly and never 
had done me harm. Lyons upbraided 
him with a terrible oath for being 
chicken-hearted, and with one blow of 
his hatchet struck her to the earth never 
to rise again. They dragged the bodies 
n short distance and covered them beside 
i\ log. They then proceeded to gather up 
the effects of the murdered people, and 
lastly the ponies, as they were now in 
finite a hurry to hasten away. 

So far all had gone well with them; 
no human eye was witness to the deed 
they had done. The depths of the lonely 
forest far, far from any settlement or 
habitation, was a fitting and safe place 
for such a crime. Safe — did we say? — 
]^o, not safe. There is an Eye that notes 
the fall of the sparrow, and numbers the 
hairs of our head. There is a Power to 
avenge blood beyond the ken of man. 
There are witnesses of all our thoughts 
and actions when we least suspect them. 
Sometimes it seems as if an overruling 
Hand directs mute, dumb witnesses to 
testify. 

Just as the murderers were catching 
the ponies to leave, after having, as they 
supposed, destroyed all evidence of crime. 



60 



occurred the circumstance which re- 
vealed all. Two colts that were not 
tethered and that followed the ponies, 
were very wild and fled at the approach 
of the white men. They could not be 
driven or coaxed to follow, but remained 
about the place whinnying and making 
a great fuss. 

The Crime Revealed 

It so happened that the other hunting 
party from the Plains arrived about this 
time and passed not far from the place, 
and the noise made by the colts was 
heard by them, and the ponies of the 
Indians answered the call of the colts, 
and the colts soon after joined and fol- 
lowed them. This was the first intima- 
tion to the hunters that they were in the 
neighborhood of the Summundewat 
party. Still they heard no guns and saw 
nothing of them. They felt certain, how- 
ever, that they could not be far off, since 
the colts would not otherwise be there. 

After a day or so one of the hunters 
took the trail of the colts, and following 
back a short distance, came to the desert- 
ed camp. He soon became satisfied that 
there was something wrong and reported 
at his camp. A number of hunters went 
with him and they soon found the bodies 
of the murdered people, and with the 
pursuits and results as before told. An- 
derson stated that not far from Ells- 
worth's house the crafty old villain met 
them and inquired. What luck? On be- 
ing told what they had done, he said. 
How much money? They produced it; 
he took it, and after looking at it said, 
"Boys this is no place to count money, we 
will meet again;" and that was the last 
they saw or heard of the illgotten gold 
and silver. 

Ellsworth Involved 

The confession of Anderson implicat- 
ing Ellsworth intensified public feeling 
to fever heat, and the officers of the law 
wore soon after him in hot haste, but 



: THE PIO^EEK 

they were too late. He had gone. Re- 
wards were offered, and he was hand- 
billed, and finally was discovered and ar- 
rested in an out of the way town in one 
of the western states, but soon made 
liis escape, and finally after Lyons and 
Anderson were out of reach, he boldly 
presented himself for trial, and of course 
went unconvicted and unpunished. 

Anderson told how they made their 
escape from jail, which was built of solid i 
square timber. With an iron poker they 
succeeded, by long perseverance, in burn- 
ing a log of timber overhead, filling 
up the marks of their work with bread 
so as to avoid detection. On the night 
set for the escape, they discovered that 
Lyons, who was a large, full built man, 
could not work his body through the hole 
in the ceiling, but he had a will equal 
to the emergency. He sent Anderson 
through into the loft. Then stripping 
off all his clothes, he pushed them 
through, after which he thrust his body 
into the hole where he stood, as if he had 
been wedged. Then commanding Ander 
son to pull up and the Irishman to push 
up, he went through after much labor J 
and excruciating torture, leaving a part ' 
of his skin on the rough, jagged edges 
of the timber. A 

Anderson was last heard of in Indiana, 1 
where to all who ever knew him he van- 
ished forever, nor has search or inquiry 
ever been able to even get the faintest 
clue to him. 

Ellsworth, as before stated, went west 
and wore the ermine of a judge, wheth- 
er worthily or unworthily is a question 
we leave to our readers. 

Lyons Lynched 

Lyons finally came to the surface in 
California at a court organized by Judge 
Lynch, accused of a diabolical murder 
and robbery. He confessed his guilt, al- 
so to his true name, and confessed to 
having murdered eight men. He was 
b.ung to the limb of a tree, and his execu- 



SCKAi'-BOOK. 



51 



tion closed the chapter of the trio of 
blood-stained men, who enacted a dark 
tragedy whicli produced a state of excite- 
ment never equalled since civilization be- 
gan in the "Black Swamp." 

In this connection the editor of the 
Henry County Signal, who was well ac- 
quainted witli tlic murdered chief, says : 
"Summundewat was one of the most 
enlightened and noble chiefs of the "Wy- 
andot nation, and was not only held in 
high estimation by his own people, but 
by all the whites that were acquainted 
with him as well. He had been convert- 
ed to the Protestant religion, and was a 
leading member in the Methodist church 
of that nation. He was always a firm 
friend of the whites, and used his en- 



deavors to maintain peace and friendly 
relations between his people and the 
Tale Faces' at that day. His murder 
caused great excitement among the In- 
dians and the whites at his old home, 
and quite a number of the latter took 
their guns and assisted in ferreting out 
the murderers. These men insisted on 
staying and guarding the prisoners after 
1heir arrest, until court convened, fear- 
ing that they would be permitted to es- 
ca])e. but after some time were prevailed 
to leave them to the keeping of the jail- 
or, and we know that the escape of Sum- 
mundewat's murderers was connived at, 
and permitted bv those who had them in 
custodv." 



LOGICAL REASONS 



Both Historical and Sentimental, Given by 

C. W. Evers Why Toledo Should Be the 

Place for Holding the Ohio 

Centenary 



IT will be remembered that preparations 
were being made to hold the com- 
memorative centenary of Ohio's admis- 
sion into the Union, at Toledo instead of 
Columbus, in 1903. Mr. Evers, at that 
time gave the following lucid points as 
to why Toledo should be selected with- 
out question : 

If historical sentiment has anything to 
do with it, Toledo is the place. 

Toledo is not only the proud metrop- 
olis of this section, favored by the prox- 
imity of river, bay, lake, islands and 
numerous railway arteries of travel and 
commerce, but she is rich in surrounding 
liistoric associations which inspire pat- 
riotic sentiment in the breast of everv 



American. There is no locality in Ohio 
of equal historic interest. 

The place where marked events in the 
story of a nation have transpired — where 
great acts of heroism, or other noble 
liuman virtues have been displayed, and 
have crowned momentous issues with 
success, always calls forth emotions of 
admiration. 

Who that has visited Bunker Hill, the 
plains of Yorktown, the tomb at Mt. 
Yernon, or the sacred precincts of Jeru- 
salem, has not felt this thrill of senti- 
ment? "If such there be, go mark him 
well." etc. 

Almost at Toledo's portals on th(^ high 
l)ank of the Maumee is the site of Fort 
]\'[iami, yet plainh' distinguishable in its 
martial outlines cf grassy embankments. 
It was here a paity of old Count Fron- 
1< nac's liardy French explorers landed in 
1ho winter of 1679-80, and unfurled the 
I'rench flag — the first symbol of eiviliza- 
lion ever planted on Ohio soil. 

In the Mad Race 

For empire later on, l)etween Gaul and 



THE PIONEER 



Anglo-Saxon, France lost, and the tri- 
color gave place to the cross of St. 
George; twice since, this same historic 
spot has bristled with English cannon, 
contesting the mastery here with the 
American republic. 

Farther away, across the river, but 
within hearing of Toledo's Sabbath bells, 
is another memorable landmark — Fort 
Meigs. Memory's filmy thread, in men 
yet living, almx)st spans the cleft of time 
— the short years back, when Ohio's fate 
hung trembling in the lurid 

Smoke of Deadly Conflict 

The misfortunes of war had suddenly 
transferred the battle ground from the 
Canada border to the Maumee. The 
sandy plains, from the Eiver Raisin to 
the Maumee rapids, had drank the blood 
of scores and hundreds of patriotic Ken- 
tuckians who had hurried to Ohio's aid. 
The exultant Britons, with their hordos 
of Indian allies, had advanced and were 
at the throat of Port Meigs, then garri- 
soned with a small force under General 
Harrison. This fort was all that stood 
between the defenseless settlements of 
southern Ohio and the infuriated savages. 
The heroic stand made under an almost 
incessant cannonade night and day, the 
unspoken prayers for help, the arrival of 
a midnight messenger bringing tidings of 
nearby reinforcements, and the deadly 
strife that ensued when that force landed 
fit the fort are among the 

Most Thrilling Episodes 

Of war's dread annals. The invaders 
were driven back, Ohio was saved, and 
the story of Fort Meigs is an inspiration 
of patriotic sentiment, heightened greatly 
by a visit there. 

The earth work lines, smooth and 
grass grown, are yet distinct in outline. 
Its quiet environfhents give scarcely a 
suggestion now of grim-visaged war that 
once frowned on its fair brow. As you 
glance across the beautiful sweep of wa- 



ter, your eye rests on the plain where 
Dudley's brave men were beaten down 
and massacred by Tecumseh's insatiate 
savages; where the diabolical revels of 
the scalp dance 

Made Night Hideous 

The waters, as. they sweep past, seem to 
breathe a sad rhythm — a requiem, as it 
were, in memory of the heroes there, in •] 
unmarked graves. 

But there are other consecrated grounds 
here; other mailed warriors were here. 
There were other tragic events, where 
the nation's safety hinged upon the mar- 
tial valor of its patriotic sons. 

Just above the fort and across the 
river by the road, near tlie margin of the 
water lies the huge granite boulder known 
far and near as 

"Turkey Foot" Rock 

Young man, did you ever visit that 
spot? 

No ! Then you should ; there is a sul- 
phur spring or well near — very strong. 
John Oviatt used to say it was here Mad 
Anthony let loose a big blast of sulphur- 
ous profanity because a few of the red- 
skins got away alive. This rock is in- 
teresting in several ways. It is large; 
no relic hunter can carry it off; it marks 
the place of high tide in the battle of 
Fallen Timber; and let me say just here 
what any soldier will see at a glance, who 
visits this interesting field, thai; the In- 
dians showed soldierly skill in selecting 
a defensive battle ground. Had not 

Wayne's Daring Scouts 

Apprised him of the situation, ho might 
have fallen into a fatal trap, skillfully 
laid for him. 

It is not only a battle ground monu- 
ment, but is believed to be the rugged 
and fitting mausoleum of a sub-chief, 
Mas-Sas-Sa (Wyandot for turkey), of 
the turkey elan of the Wyandots, who 
was one of the unlucky fellows who tried 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



53 



to stop Wayne's saldiers that day. The 
totem, or emblem of his clan was a pic- 
ture of a turkey's foot or track, which 
his devoted clansmen afterwards cut in 
this rock as a memorial to their chief. 

Mas-Sas-Sa was not a leading chief, 
but of all the chieft-ains, red or white, 
M'hose deeds in war have made the Mau- 
mee historic, none other that I know of 
has a monument. 

It is a reproach on the enter}. rise and 
patriotism of our people, that while we 
lavish so much on doubtful projects, we 
neglect to beautify these historic spots 
and properly commemorate the names of 
the heroes who came here to deliver the 
land from savage bondage and from con- 
quest by kings. 

It is unpleasant to think what mignt 
have happened, in case of Wayne's de- 
feat. Did you ever think of it? 

The government was weak in resour- 
ces. Two American armies had been de- 
stroyed, and Wayne was leading a third 
one into the swampy fastnesses of the 
]\Iaumee — a 

Veritabh River Styx 

Then, the chosen rendezvous of the allied 
savages of the northwest, who were aid- 
ed and goaded on l\v Bi'itish agents and 
traders. England had advanced from 
the Canada border and planted her flag 
and garrison on the Maumee at Miami. 

Behind Wayne was the buried skele- 
tons of St. Clair's butchered army, and 
three feeble settlements on the Ohio from 
Marietta down, all cooped up in block 
houses. Blue Jacket and Little Turtle, 
insolent with victory, had made the Na- 
poleonic decree that no American could 
come north of tlie Ohio and live. That 
was Ohio on that eventful August day. 
Xo wonder the victory Wayne achieved 
there thrilled the nation witli joy and 
brought loud acclamations of gratitude 

From All Border Settlers 

Wayne was the first to jdant tlie sym- 



bol of the new republic on the Maumee 
and no power has ever been able to dis- 
place it. 

Anthony Wayne was a man of auda- 
cious courage, skilled in strategy, prudent 
in detail as Washington himself, invinci- 
ble and strong of will as Kleber, impetu- 
ous in attack as Murat and profane as 
Swarrow. He seemed well fitted for the 
rough and tumble border warfare Wash- 
ington chose for him. 

A fitting monument should perpetuate 
iiis heroic memory on the Maumee. 

Another great actor in border drama, 
Pontiac, the greatest red chieftain of tho 
north, made his home with his tribe, the 
Ottawas, on the Maumee just below To- 
ledo, shortly after the collapse of the 
startling and wide spread conspiracy 
which he had planned with consummate 
ability. His kindred lived there many 
years. His son Ottuso and his widow, 

Kan-Tuck- E-Gun 

Were at the treaty at the Maumee Rap- 
ids, 1817, and not 3n Indian would sign 
until the aged woma:i would first touch 
the pen. 

Toledo is, as I just said, the focus 
|)oint where more of historic interest 
centers than any point in Ohio. The 
])atriotic element love and cherish these 
associations. It is our duty as loyal 
citizens to cultivate and encourage pa- 
triotism in every way. The rising gen- 
eration should be taught to feel a pride 
in the noble deeds and virtues of their 
ancestors; it makes us all better citizens 
and nuikes our form of government more 
enduring. With Toledo's enterprise, her 
re])utation for generous hospitality and 
higli standard of social culture, together 
with her incomparable facilities for 
handling a crowd and making their stay 
comfortable, there ought to Ix^ no ques- 
tion of her standing at the head of the 
list of candidates for the Centennial. 



54 



THE PIONEER 



INDIANS FOILED 



In Vain Did the Strategy of the Red Hostiles 
Succeed with Wayne 



NO sooner luul Wayne's column begun 
its line of march through the wil- 
derness than hostile warriors assailed the 



troops at every opportunity — hung on 
their fianks, attacked the rear guard, plan- 
ned ambuscades and by every stratagem 
tried to draw the army into their deadly 
toils as they had done with Harmar and 
St. Clair, but in every attempt they were 
foiled. They always met a warm recep- 
tion whenever or wherever they attacked 
the American line. — C. W. E. 



PIONEER FAMILIES 



That Settled on the Site of Bowling Green 
The Martindales and Others 



IN October, 1832, Elisha Martindale en- 
tered 40 acres of land directly west 
of and joining the present fair grounds, 
and put up a stack of wild hay at a point 
about due west of the floral hall, and on 
the west side of the present Haskins road, 
where the great willow tree stood, and 
long known as tiie Clinton Pay place. 
That was the first land entry in the 
present limits of Bowling Green as shown 
by the records. 

In the spring of 1833 Martindale 
brought his family, and a few household 
effects out from Maumee, crossing the 
river on the ice aiid following, much of 
the way, the old army trail until he 
reached the cabin of a settler named Wil- 
son on the ridge on the Haskins road, 
where the family stayed until a cabin 
could be built, except the two girls, 
Louisa, Avho later became Mrs. Van Tas- 
sel and later Thurstin and Eliza Jane, 
who married Warren Gunn; tliey were 
taken over to the Portage settlement and 
left with a family named -Jaques until 
the cabin was ready. 

Mr. Martindale, who was a man of 
restless energy, was nothing discouraged 
to find his stack of prairie hay had gone 
up in smoke in a l)ig prairie fire late in 



the fall, started likely by Indians on 
their hunting excursions, but went right 
to work and in less than four weeks had 
a cabin 18x24 with "shake" roof, ready 
and his family moved in. They got a 
supply of meat from Wilson, who, with 
fi hunter named Decker, took their pick 
from the bands of wild hogs that fatten- 
ed on nuts and acorns in the vast for- 
ests. The girls were brought home, a 
shelter was made for the cow, a well dug 
and Bowling Grei^i's pioneer family was 
settled in their new home. It was paid 
for and all their own. 

Soon after they had got settled the old- 
est girl, Sally, arrived, bringing with her 
a gingham dress pattern and other fix- 
ings for a dress suit. In a few days 
William Hecox, a young man from Mau- 
miee, came with a license, and Squire 
Elijah Huntington, of Perrysburg, on 
April 15, 1833, solemnized the first mar- 
riage in Bowling Green. 

The only neighbors, the Wilsons, were 
invited, also four friends from the mis- 
sion station on the Maumee. When the 
young bride left the humble cabin that 
day on horseback sitting behind her hus- 
band on the same horse, there was no rice 
or second-hand shoes to throw after her; 
those articles were scarce then. 

Other cabins followed among them that 
of Alfred Thurstin, in the year, 1833, 
who entered land and built a cabin just 
east of the present Eeed & Merry block. 
— C. W. E. in Wood County Tribune. 




TECUMSEH 
Prominent Chief of the Turtle Tribe of Indians— Killed October 5, 1813. 



SCKAP-BOOK. 



57 



PETER MANOR 



How He Was Remembered by His Adopted 
Father, the Indian Chief Tondoganie 



PETER MANOR came to the river to 
reside in the year 1808. He had 
been here prior to that time but not to 
settle, and he had most likely acquired a 
knowledge of the locality through his 
connection with some of the French Can- 
adian exploring parties, for at a much 
earlier period they had made their way 
up the Maumee river and carried their 
canoes from the head waters of the Mau- 
mee to the Wabash and passed down that 
river to the Ohio. Manor was adopted 
by the Indian chief Tondoganie and by 
the treaty at the foot of the Rapids of 
the Miami of the Lake, concluded Sept. 
29, 1817, his adopted father caused a 
section of land to be granted to his son. 
The treaty say< it was granted at the 
special request of the Ottawas. The 
^rant is in these words: "To Sa- wan-de- 
bans, or the Yellow Hair or Petar Manor, 
an adopted son of Tondoganie or the Dog, 
and at the special request of the Ottawas, 



out of the tract reserved by the treaty of 
Detroit, in 1807, about Roche De Boeuf, 
at the village of the said Dog, a section 
of land to contain 640 acres, to be located 
in a square form, on the north side of the 
Miami at the Wolf Rapid." This land 
was within the original limits of Wood 
county. 

It was Manor who saved the settlers 
at the foot of the Rapids from the hor- 
hors of massacre by the Indians. He 
learned of the surrender of Hull from an 
Indian runner, and that the Indians 
would come in three days' time and would 
massacre all the Yankees in the valley. 

* * Manor lost no time in making 
this known to the settlers, and they fled, 
but not too soon, for they heard the yells 
of the savages, and saw the smoke of 
their log houses as they passed down the 
river in their frail bark. Thus tragic- 
ally ended the first settlement within the 
limits of Wood county, and the space 
A'acated by the destruction of their houses 
became the theatre of war, always dread- 
ful, but revolting when carried on by a 
savage foe, and still more so, Avhen those 
claiming to be Christians, use the savage 
scal]iing knife. 



LITTLE TURTLE 



The Wisest Indian Diplomat, Remained Faith- 
ful to the Greenville Treaty 



IX making the Greenville treaty. Gen. 
Wayne, who was a pretty skillful, far- 
sighted diplomatist, nearly found his 
match in some of the Indian chiefs who 
displayed wonderful tact and crude 
statesmanship. Especially was this true 
of Little Turtle, whose skill, tenacity and 
faithfulness in trying to guard the rights 
■of all the tribes, won encomiums even 
fiom his enemies. It may be further 



said of this Indian and of his tribe, the 
Miamis, that after the treaty was signed 
they always remained faithful friends of 
the Americans. The same can not be 
said of some of the other tribes, especially 
the Shawanees, a portion of whom, under 
Tecumseh and his brother, turned against 
the Americans in the war with England 
in 1813.— C. W. E. 



Wapakoneta was the home of Tecumseh 
and Logan, where their families lived. 
Logan, the famous Shawanese chief, 
was a nephew of Tecumseh. his mother 
being a sister of that distinguished In- 
dian warrior. 



58 



THE PIONEER 



ELOQUENCE OF TECUMSEH 



His Forcible Address to Gen. Proctor in Be- 
half of His Warriors 



WHEA^ Proctor began to make pre- 
parations to retreat from Maiden, 
the quick eye of Tecumseh soon detected 
it. He called his warriors about him and 
in their behalf addressed Proctor as fol- 
lows: 

"Father, listen to your children ! You 
have them now all before you. The war 
before this, our British father gave the 
hatchet to his red children, when our old 
chiefs were alive. They are now dead. 
In that war our father was thrown on liis 
back by the Americans; and our father 
took them by the hand without our know- 
ledge; and we are afraid that our father 
will do so again this time. 

"Summer before last when I came for- 
ward with my red brethren, and was 
ready to take up the hatchet in favor of 
our British father, we were told not to be 
in a hurry, that he had not yet deter- 
mined to fight the Americans. Listen ! 
When war was declared, our father stood 
up and gave us the tomahawk, and told 
us that he was then ready to strike the 
Americans; that he wanted our assist- 
ance, and that he would certainly get our 
land back, which the Americans had taken 
from us. 

"Listen ! When we were last at the 
Eapids, it is true we gave you little as- 
sistance. It is hard to fight people who 
live like groundhogs. Father, listen ! 
Our fleet has gone out; we know they 
have fought; we have heard the great 
guns; but we know nothing of what has 
happened to our father with one arm. 
(Commodore Barclay, who had lost an 
arm in some previous battle.) Our ships 
have gone one way, and we are much as- 
tonished to see our father tying up every 
thing and preparing to run away the 



other, without letting his red childrerL 
know what his intentions are. You al- 
ways told us to remain here and take care 
of our lands. It made our hearts glad to^ 
hear that was your wish. Our great 
father, the king, is the head, and you 
represent him. You always told us you 
would never draw your foot oft British 
ground ; but now, father, we see that you 
are drawing back, and we are sorry to see 
our father doing so without, seeing the 
enemy. "\^'e must compare our father's 
conduct to a fat dog, that carries its tail 
on its back, but when affrighted, drops it 
between its legs and runs off. Father, 
listen I The Americans have not yet de- 
feated us by land; neither are we sure 
that they have done so by water; we, 
therefore, wish to remain here and fight 
our enemy, should they make their ap- 
pearance. If they defeat us, we will then 
retreat with our father. 

"At the battle of the Rapids (Wa3nie's) 
in the last Avar, the Americans certainly 
defeated us; and when we returned to 
our father's fort at that place, the gates 
wore shut against us. We were afraid 
that it would now be the case; but in- 
stead of that, we now see our British 
father preparing to march out of his gar- 
rison. Father, you have not the arms 
and ammunition which our great father 
sent for his red children. If you have an 
idea of going away, give them to lis, and 
you may go and welcome, for us." 

Shortly after the delivery of this speech 
a considerable body of Indians abandon- 
ed General Proctor, and crossed the strait 
to the American shore. — C. W. E. 



The coldest day on record in this coun- 
ty was January 36, 1873, when the mer- 
cury stood 30 degrees below zero. 

Gen. IjcBaum, in 1780 attempted to 
capture Fort Wayne, known then a» 
Kekionga. hut Avas defeated and his en- 
tire command massacred. 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



59 



TECUMSEH DESCRIBED 



By Gen. Leslie Combs of Kentucky, as He 
Saw Him 



GEN. LESLIE COMBS, in a letter 
to tlie Historical Eecord in 1871, 
gives the following description of the 
noted Indian Chief, Tecuinseh: 

You ask me for a description of the 
celebrated Indian warrior, Tecumseh, 
from my personal observation.' I answer 
that I never saw the great chief but once, 
and then under rather exciting circum- 
stances, but I have a vivid recollection of 
him from his appearance, and from inter- 
course with his personal friends, I am 
possessed of an accurate knowledge of 
his character. 

I was, as you know, one of the prison- 
ers taken at what is known as Dudley's 
defeat on the banks of the Maumee river, 
opposite Fort Meigs, early in May, 1813. 
Tecumseh had fallen upon our rear, and 
we were compelled to surrender. We 
were marched down to the old Fort 
Miami or Maumee, in squads, where a 
terrible scene awaited us. 

The Indians, fully armed with guns, 
war clubs and tomahawks — to say nothing 
of scalping knives, had formed themselves 
into two lines in front of the gateway be- 
tween which all of us were bound to pass. 
Many were killed or wounded in running 
the gauntlet. Shortly after the prisoners 
had entered, the Indians rushed over the 
walls and again surrounded us, and rais- 
ed the war-whoop, at the same time mak- 
ing unmistakable demonstrations of vio- 
lence. We all expected to be massacred, 
and the small British guard around us 
were utterly unable to afford protection. 
They called loudly for General Proctor 
and Colonel Elliot to come to our relief. 
At this critical moment Tecumseh came 
rushing in, deeply excited, and denounced 
the murderers of prisoners as cowards. 



Thus our lives were spared and we were 
sent down to the fleet at the mouth of 
Swan Creek (now Toledo) and from that 
place across the end of the lake to Huron 
and paroled. 

I shall never forget the noble counten- 
ance, gallant bearing and sonorous voice 
of that remarkable man, while addressing 
his warriors in our behalf. 

He was then between forty and forty- 
five years of age. His frame was vigor- 
ous and robust, but he was not fat, weigh- 
ing about one hundred and seventy 
pounds. Five feet ten inches was his 
height. He had a high, projecting fore- 
head, and broad, open countenance; and 
there was something noble and command- 
ing in all his actions. He was brave, 
liumane and generous, and never allowed 
a prisoner to be massacred if he could 
prevent it. At Fort Miami he saved the 
lives of all of us who had survived run- 
ning the gauntlet. He afterwards re- 
leased seven Shawanese belonging to my 
command, and sent them home on parole. 
Tecumseh was a Shawanese. His name 
signified in their language. Shooting 
Star. x\t the time when I saw him he 
held the commission of a Brigadier Gen- 
eral in the British army. I am satisfied 
that he deserved all that was said of him 
by General Cass and Governor Harrison, 
previous to his death. 



The names of the settlers who located 
within the limits of Wood county, prior 
to 1810, so far as can be ascertained, are 
Maj. Amos Spafford, Andrew Race, 
Thomas Leaming, Halsey W. Leaming, 
James Carliu, Wm. Carter, George Bla- 
lock, James Slawson, Samuel H. Ewing, 
Jesse Skinner, David Hull, Thomas 
Dick, William Peters, Ambrose Hickox, 
Richard Gifford; these all resided within 
a radins of five miles of the foot of the 
rapids. 



60 



THE PIONEEE 



DEATH OF TECUMSEH 



Killed at the Battle of the River Thames and 
His Body Skinned 



GEK GEOEGE SANDERSON, who 
died in 1871, at Lancaster, Ohio, 
was with Gen. Harrison in the battle of 
the river Thames, as a Captain in the 
regular army. Regarding Tecumseh's 
death Gen. Sanderson says: 

My company shared in the glorious 
rout of Proctor and his proud army, that 
result being attained Ijy the victory at 
tlie river Thames. It was on the memor- 
able day, October o, 1813, that Tecumseh 
fell. I remember Tecumseh. I saw him 
a number of times before the war. He 
was a man of huge frame, powerfully 
built, and was about six feet two inches 
in height. I saw his body on the Thames 
battlefield before it was cold. Whether 
Colonel Johnson killed liim or not, I can- 
not say. During the battle all was 
smoke, noise and confusion. Indeed, I 
never heard any one speak of Colonel 
Johnson's having killed Tecumseh until 
years afterwards. Johnson was a brave 
man, and was badly wounded in the bat- 
tle in a very painful part — his knuckles 
— and also, I think, in the body. He was 
carried past me on a litter. In the even- 
ing on the day of the battle I was ap- 



pointed by General Harrison to g-uard the 
Indian prisoners with my company. The 
location was near a swamp. 

As to the report of the Kentuckians 
having skinned Tecumseh's body, I am 
personally cognizant that such was the 
fact. I have seen many contrary reports, 
but they are untrue. I saw the Kentucky 
troops in the very act of cutting the skin 
from the body of the chief. They would 
cut strips about a half a foot in length 
iind an inch and a half wide, which would 
stretch like gum elastic. I saw a piece 
two inches long, which, when it was dry, 
could be stretched nearly a foot in length. 
Til at it was Tecumseh's body which was 
skinned I have no doubt. I knew him. 
Besides the Indian prisoners under my 
charge continually pointed to his body, 
\\'luch laid close by, and uttered the most 
Ix'wailing cries at his loss. By noon the 
day after the battle the body could hardly 
be recognized, it had so thoroughly been 
skinned. My men covered it Avith brush 
and logs, and it was probably eaten by 
-wolves. Although many officers did not 
like the conduct of the Kentuckians, they 
dare not interfere. The troop.^ from that 
slate were infuriated at the massacre at 
the river Raisin, and their battle cry was, 
"Remember the River of Raisin." It 
WHS only with difficulty that the Indian 
prisoners could be guarded, so general 
was the disposition of the Kentuckians to 
massacre them. 



ERASMUS D. PECK, M. D. 



The 



Record of a Busy Life — One of the 
Leading Physicians of Our 
Early History 



ERASMUS D. PEC!K, so well known 
to the older citizens of this county, 
was bom at Stalfovd. Conn., September 



](;, 1808, and died December 25, 1876, at 
the age of G8. His medical education 
was o])t^ined at Yale College and Berk- 
shire Medical College, gradiiating from 
the latter in 1827. He came to the Mau- 
mee Valley and settled in Perrysburg in 
1834, and at once engaged in the arduous 
duties of his profession. 

Aside from his profession Dr. Peek for 
many years engaged in luany business en- 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



61 



terprisos. Among these may be euumer- 
ated drugs, merchandise, ship building, 
hardware, warehousing and fiour-mill. 
He also built tlie hydraulic canal at Per- 
rysburg. 

In all his money-making he turned it 
to some practical account. He did not 
keep it for show, nor wear it for ostenta- 
tion. As soon as earned, it was invested 
in some useful occupation. There was 
in his composition but little of the imag- 
inative. Dreams and visionary theories 
he discarded, and with wonderful tenac- 
ity clung to the practical business of the 
country, and through life kept every dol- 
lar employed in active business. 

At the election in the spring of 1869, 
he was elected to Congress to fill tlie va- 
cancy caused by the death of Hon. T. H. 
Hoag, who had beaten Mr. Ashley the fall 
before. He was re-elected in the fall of 
the next year for the full term. At both 
of these elections, the citizens of Perrys- 
burg testified to the high esteem in which 
they held him, by largely ignoring party 
and casting almost the entire vote for 
him. 

His Work During the Cholera 

In a paper read before the Maumee 
Valley Pioneer Association on the char- 
acter of Dr. Peck, among other things 
Hon. Asher Cook said: 

"I feel the story of the doctor's life 
would be incomplete without some ac- 
count of his noble work during the chol- 
era, which raged with unexampled fatal- 
ity at Perrysburg in the summer of 1854. 
Between the 20th of July and the middle 
of August one hundred and twenty per- 
sons died. ]\Iany of the citizens left, and 
of those who remained, all who did not 
die were engaged in taking care of the 
sick and burjdng the dead. Stores wera 
closed and business suspended. No one 
came to the suffering town. Even trav- 
elers whose route lay through the town 
went round it. The reality of death 
stared everv one in the face. At first the 



terror and excitement among the citizens 
vvere indescribable, and ail who could 
sought safety in flight. Some of these 
indiscreetly advised Dr Peck to go with 
them, telling him he could not stop the 
progress of the epidemic, and he was only 
exposing himself unnecessarily, where his 
lal)ors would be unavailing, aud in all 
human probability he would lose his 
own life without saving others. But 
amid all the consternation around him, 
he was cool, although he had greater 
cause of alarm than any, being constantly 
exposed. The door of his drug store was 
left open night and day, and the people 
helped themselves to such medicines as 
he would direct them to take, as he met 
them on his rounds to visit the sick and 
the dying. At the commencement of the 
epidemic his partner, Dr. James Kobert- 
son, was among its first victims. This 
left him alone to contend with this "in- 
comprehensible desttt'oyer single-handed. 
But he never faltered, nor for a moment 
quailed before the death-dealing scourge, 
that was blindly putting forth its unseen 
power, which killed where it touched. 
Wearied and worn down by i-onstant fa- 
tigue, he nevertheless rallied his powers, 
and hurried with unfaltering footsteps to 
each new demand for his aid. 

"During those days and nights of ter- 
rible anxiety and suffering, lie was al- 
most constantly on the go, in no instance 
refusing to obey a call, until threatened 
with inflammation of the brain from loss 
of sleep. The citizens placed a guard 
around his house at night, to keep away 
callers, and allow him a few hours' rest 
to prepare him for the labors of the com- 
ing day. 

"His answers to those who sought to 
induce him to abandon his duty, was: 
1 camo to Perrysburg to minister to tlie 
sick, and I shall not abandon them now 
when they most need my services. The 
pliysician's place is at the bedside of the 
sick and dying, not by the side of roses 
in gardens of pleasure." 



62 



THE PIONEER 



MAHLON MEEKER 



His Early Settlement in Plain Township — His 

Hard Struggle — Incidents of His 

Pioneer Days 



MAHLON MEEKER, who came to 
Wood county in 1833, passed away 
in 1876, aged 78 years. He came from 
Butler county, where he left his wife and 
two children, until he should find and 
locate their future home. In company 
with Johnston White, a resident of Mil- 
tonville, he visited, says the Wood County 
Sentinel (edited by C. W. Evers), the 
beautiful wild meadow north of what is 
now Bowling Green, and discovered, 
accidentally, a large stool of clover 
in blossom, the only thing in the tame 
grass line he had seen since he left But- 
ler county. He called White to him and 
said: "I am not afraid to trust myself 
on land that will grow such clover as 
this." That spear or stool of clover, Mr. 
]\Ieeker thought, grew near where he aft- 
erward built his barn. That circum- 
stance decided him in his location. He 
built his cabin there. Afterwards he 
went to Bucyrus and entered the land for 
$1.25 per acre, and owned and lived on it 
to tbe time of his death. 

Startling Incident 

Mrs. Meeker says after she arrived and 
saw what a desolate life lay before them 



her heart sank within her, and only for 
her children, she would have prayed God 
to relieve her from further struggle with 
a life of discouragement. One night 
shortly after her arrival and during the 
absence of her husband, she heard the 
voice of a woman screaming from a little 
pole shanty about a quarter of a mile dis- 
tant where a family named Decker had 
just moved. She did not dare leave in 
tlie darkness, but next morning went over 
and found a dejected looking woman sit- 
ting before the fire cracking walnuts, 
wliile over against the side of her shanty 
on the puncheon floor, lay hvv husband, 
Jesse Decker, dead. He had died in 
convulsions from an overdose of lurpi-n- 
tine taken for some bilious ailment. Mr. 
Meeker and a man named Howard broke 
their way through the ice to the Otsego 
mill with a yoke of oxen, got some rough 
Itoards and a few nails with which they 
laade a rough box and hauled Decker's 
hcdy to the ridge known as Union ceme- 
ti ry. and the burial, which was perhaps 
the first at that place, was conducted 
without ceremony. 

Mr. Marker was an excellent and exem- 
plary citizen, a sincere friend and kind 
neighbor. Before his death he was the 
oldest pioneer of Plain township. By 
his enterprise in early introducing im- 
proved varieties of fruit and live stock, 
he contributed in no small degree to the 
advancement of the central part of the 
county and may justly be classed first 
ninoii"- useful citizens. 



'LAND SHARKS" 



Mahlon Meeker's Narrow Escape from Being 
the Victim of One 



NEARLY all the land in Plain town- 
ship at one time belonged to the 
government and was subject to entry. 
Most of the settlers, at first "squatted" 



on a tract and began improvements, trust- 
ing to the future to get the means to 
enter land. But in too many cases on 
account of sickness or wet seasons it re- 
quired their utmost efforts to gain even a 
tolerable subsistence, let alone getting 
anything ahead, and many of them lost 
nil the fruits of their labor by those 
ghouls of the western frontier, called 
"land sharks." Mahlon Meeker narrow- 




The 



PETER NAVARRE 
Famous Scout Under General Harrison. 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



05 



ly escaped becoming a victim to one of 
these land plunderers. He had made 
considerable opening before he got ready 
to pay for his land. 

There came into the ku-ality a fellow 
who pretended to be buying cattle. The 
stranger bought no cattle, however, but 
in conversation at John Wilson's, where 
he stopped to feed his horse, he let drop 
some remark by which Mrs. Wilson at 
once detected his business. She went at 
once to the Meekers, and on his return 
home that night she told him the business 
of the stranger. 

Mr. Meeker Avent to Perrysburg that 
night, borrowed the money of John Hol- 



lister and immediately took an Indian 
trail for Bucyrus, which was the U. S. 
land office for this part of the state. 

He rode as far as his horse could carry 
him the first day, then left his horse and 
footed it all night. He made his entry at 
the register office and went from there to 
the receiver's office. On returning short- 
ly afterward to the register's office he was 
told by the officer that a man had been 
there only a few minutes after him to en- 
ter the same land. In his description 
Meeker at once recognized the bogus cat- 
tle buyer, who was just a little too late. — • 
C. W^ E. 



GRAND RAPIDS 



The Original Plat Made in 1831 Roads 
Petitioned For and Located 



FIKST of the villages laid out in Wes- 
ton township, was Gilead, now called 
Grand Eapids. The first or original plat 
of Gilead was made by J. jST. Graham in 
1831. In 1832, Guy ISTearing built a saw 
mill at Bear Rapids on the Maumee, and 
with Joshua Chappel, laid out the vil- 
lage of Otsego, which for a time bid fair 
to outstrip its competitors in growth and 
importance, but in the progress of human 
affairs, the village died as did the vil- 
lage of Benton, which David Hedges laid 
out, about one and a half miles below 
Otsego. 

All travel to and from Gilead, was 
along the river road to Perrysburg, at 
the head of navigation on the Maumee 
river, from which place all goods, pro- 
visions, etc., destined for the up-river 
settlements must be hauled, over the al- 
most impassable roads with ox- teams, 
and all the peltries accumulated and 



produce raised must seek a market down 
the river in like manner. 

In 1828, Alexander Brown and his 
father-in-law, Jos. North, were the first 
settlers to move back from the river into 
tlie dense forests that lay thick and dark 
between the river and the broad, grassy 
swamp known as Keeler's prairie. Mr. 
Brown located a heavily timbered tract 
of land along Beaver Creek, or as it was 
also then called, "Minard's Creek," and 
built the first cabin in a beautiful beech 
and maple grove. The beautiful bluff 
banks of Beaver Creek, covered thickly 
with forests of sugar maple, beech, oak 
and hickory timber, rapidly attracted the 
attention of settlers, and ere long Mr. 
Brown had neighbors on all sides of him. 

Cutting Out First Road 

The first township road petitioned for 
and located, was the road from Grand 
Rapids to a little above Potter; where it 
intersects the Wapakoneta road. It was 
located in the fall of 1830, and was the 
first regularly surveyed road leading from 
the river into the wilderness of the in- 
terior. Its length was a little over four 
miles and all the distance was through 



(iO 



THE PIONEER 



the most dense forest imaginable, such 
as the Maumee country was justly cele- 
brated for along in the "thirties." The 
Wapakoneta road was not all cleared out 
yet at this time, so Alexander Brown took 
a contract to chop the timber out of a 
portion of the road from Gilead to the 
Wapakoneta road, and also for ten miles 
up the "Wapak" road. This furnished 
employment for a number of the settlers 
during the winter of 1830 and '31. The 
first choppers camped on their work. 
The first camp was near what is known 
as the John Pugh farm, in the edge of 
Henry county. There was at this point 
a deserted Indian village, and in the 
bark wigwams of the Indians, the chop- 
pers found shelter. 

The next road laid out in the township 
was that very accommodating road still 
in use, called "the Grilead road," which 
ran about wherever there was dry land 



enough, and wherever there was a set- 
tlement, and finally brought up at Collis- 
ter Haskins" place, where the Findlay 
road strikes the Portage river. On the 
surveyors map of the road made and 
filed with the commissioners, the place 
where Ralph 0. Keeler and his herders 
were camped on the Hollister cattle 
ranch, was called "HoUister's Prairie.'" 
This was the first name applied to the 
Keeler prairie and the settlement which 
afterwards becanne "New Westfield," 
Westfield, Taylortown and finally Weston. 
This road gave great latitude to the en- 
gineer who surveyed it, and he followed 
the "best" route frequently when not 
really the "nearest," though the old 
"Gilead road"* is still one of the best 
roads as well as one of the most used 
roads and is the nearest route still, from 
"HoUister's Prairie" to Gilead. It was 
completed in 1S34.— C. W. E. 



AN ILLUSTRATION 



Showing a Desire for Social Friendship 
John Gingery' s Disappointment 



TO illustrate the neighborly instinct, 
and desire to be sociable, felt by all 
settlers in a new country. Uncle John 
Gingery tells the following story: 

The choppers were at this time camp- 
ed at Avhat is known as Wilcox's bend, 
in Beaver Creek. One morning in mid- 
winter found the choppers' camp bedded 
in a foot of snow, and a stiff blizzard 
blowing from the northwest. Uncle 
John, driven out early by the cold, set 
about kindling up the smouldering camp 
fire. While engaged at this, he heard 
away ofi: to the southeast, dim through 
the quiet of the frosty morning air, the 
faint, shrill crow of a rooster. Much 
elated at this evidence of growing civil- 



ization, and the proximity of Christian 
neighbors, he at once set out in the di- 
rection indicated by the voice of the 
rooster, to make the acquaintance of the 
venturesome owners of the bird; guided 
by the occasional crowing, he floundered 
on through the deep snow, over logs and 
through tangled brushwood, for more 
than a mile, and at last pulled up at a 
miserable little settlement of Indians on 
the banks of Beaver Creek. Uncle John 
looked about for the rooster, and at 
length spied him, tied with a piece of 
bark by the leg to the hut of his red 
skinned captor. The little fellow crowed 
as merrily as ever he did in the civ- 
ilized settlements, from which he had un- 
doubtedly licen stolen by a chicken loving 
Indian. 

Uncle John didn't regret the tramp 
of over a mile, as the cheerful little 
bird had taught him a good lesson on 
making the best of circumstances, and 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



67 



he returned to his camp without disturb- 
ing the sleeping braves, but with a strong 
desire to pummel the red skin that stole 
the chicken. On his way back to the 
choppers' camp, Uncle John found that 
his trail had been crossed by an enor- 
mous bears trail, but, unarmed as he 
was, he was glad not to have a near in- 
terview, as at that season of the year, 
they were apt to be hungry and fero- 
cious. 



As their job of chopping was nearly 
completed, Mr. Gingery and Mr. Brown 
arranged to visit that locality and have 
;1 grand hunt, which they did in Febru- 
ary, camping in their old chopping camp, 
and securing a fine lot of bear pelts, and 
(•thor game, without injury to themselves, 
but losing several of their dogs from the 
too ardent embraces of old bruin. Bear 
hides were worth from six to seven dol- 
hirs each at Perrvsburg at that time. 



FISH AND AGUE 



Two Distinguished Characteristics in the 

Early Period of Maumee Valley 

History 



SOLDIEES who came with Mad An- 
thony to the Maumee country, never 
afterward tired of extolling its beauties, 
its fertility, its fine forests of oak, walnut, 
poplar and other valuable timber — its 
rivers swarming with the lovely musca- 
lunge and sturgeon, its myriads of "red 
horse'" (suckers), the gamey black bass 
and the fat, lubberly cat fish of such 
enormous proportions that a single fish 
made a meal for one of Wayne's cavalry 
companies at Defiance. 

If the few old settlers now left on the 
^Laumee were to explain to the present 
generation the numbers and size of the 
fish of the early times they would be 
suspected of having bad memories or of 
telling professional fisherman's "yarns." 

But there were other things about these 
rivers not so enticing as its fish — its fever 
and ague. It was not usually fatal, but 
it was dreadfully uncomfortable. Few 
escaped it. Wayne's soldiers had it. He 
dosed them with whisky as his surgeon's 
reports show, but Mononghahela whisky 
was no match for Maumee ague in those 
davs — in fact the fish and ague seemed 



to have held, for size and number, nearly 
relative proportions; they were hard to 
beat. 

The soldiers and early pioneers had 
two theories about how they got the ague. 
Some thought it was carried by a 
malarious poison in the air, arising from 
decaying vegetation. Others thouglit it 
got into their systems through the fish 
tliey ate. Both sides of the question 
had plenty of advocates and both proved 
the truth or fallacy of their theor}^ as 
might be, by having the ague. All had 
i;. It was no respector of persons. 

It was a singular complication or com- 
bination of attacks on the human sys- 
tem. The victim begun the ordeal with 
a feeling of extreme chilliness; lips and 
finger nails turned blue as if the blood 
were stagnant. Then greater chilliness 
followed by shivering and chattering of 
teeth. By this time the victim, feeling 
as if every bone in his body would break, 
had crawled into bed if he was fortunate 
enough to have one, and call for more 
cover, shaking meanwhile as if just out 
of an icy river in a bleak day. 

This chilly period lasted from three- 
f|uarters of an hour to one hour or more, 
and was followed by a raging fever in 
which the ]iatient constantly called for 
more water whicli he gulped down by the 
quart, and still the thirst was unquenched 
and unquoncliablo. 

This fe\(M- in turn would, be followed 



6S 



THE PIONEER 



by a relaxation of the system and the 
most profuse and exhausting perspiration 
until the sheets and clothing would be 
wringing wet, leaving in the clothes a 
disagreeable odor hard to describe, but al- 
ways the same. There was no mistaking 
an "ague sweat" by its odor. 

From this "siege" of three or four hours 
the patient would rise weak and dizzy and 
go about his or her duties and, as the 
ague fit only came on in most cases 
every other day, the patient had some 



respite in which to recruit a little. Usu- 
ally in the "off" day the patient would 
be tormented with almost an uncontroll- 
able hunger. Quinine, when it could be 
had was the chief antidote. The ague 
and chill fever as it used to be known, 
is seldom heard of now. With the clean- 
ing up and drainage of the land it has 
l^assed away or taken some new form of 
development in the system. The last 
general epidemic of ague was in the wet 
season of 1852.— (7. W. E. 



PETER NAVARRE 



The Famous Indian Interpreter and Gen. 
Harrison's Scout 



THE stirring events of the early life 
of one of Maumee's most active 
and loyal citizens, in his day, Pierre Na- 
varre (Peter Nevarre), should have been 
preserved, if it had been possible; but 
being an uneducated man, he was little 
known after the war closed except by a 
few of his old and intimate friends. 

This energetic young Frenchman, was 
a favorite scout and runner of General 
Harrison's and other officers during the 
war, and was much employed, both be- 
fore and after the close of the war, in 
carrying important dispatches for the 
Government, from Detroit to the settle- 
ments at the foot of the Maumee, and 
also to Fort Wayne, and down the Wa- 
bash and as far west as Vincennes and 
St. Louis. He was employed as Indian 
interpreter at the councils held on this 
and the Wabash rivers, as trusty scout 
sent with notice to the different tribes, 
when a council was to be held by the 
agents, or officers of the Government or 



army; knew all intricacies of the wind- 
ing Indian trails, that led along the 
rivers, and across wide prairies from one 
point to another, and always knew where 
to find the different hunting parties on 
their remote hunting grounds. 

I met, and afterwards became well ac- 
quainted with an old Pottawatomie chief. 
Captain Billy Colwell, on the upper Mis- 
souri, in 1840, who was well acquainted 
with Navarre. Capt. Colwell was in 
the immediate command of the Pottawa- 
tomies, at the battle of the Thames, and 
described Peter as one of the most active 
and dangerous of the scouts of Harrison 
on that bloody field. The chief attempt- 
ed several times during the day to get a 
shot at the wily scout (as he was easily 
recognized in his highly ornamented suit 
of buckskin), but at each time was elud- 
ed, when the sights of his rifle were al- 
most drawn upon him. Capt. Colwell 
gave Navarre credit for being the most 
active on foot and in general movements 
on a field of battle, that he ever knew. 
These men met frequently after the war, 
and became fast friends, being about 
the same age, both having passed through 
many of the same stirring scenes of that 
day. 

These worthy men have both gone to 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



69 



their long rest. Peter Navarre, lies in 
the little French burying ground near 
the mouth of the Maumee, and the old 
Pottawatomie chief, Capt. Colwell, is 
taking his last sleep, on the east bank of 
the Missouri, near Council Bluffs. 
What an interesting history could have 



been written of the stirring incidents of 
the early settlements of this country, in 
which these men were among the active; 
but they are gone, and many of the in- 
cidents of historic interest are buried 
with them. — I). W. H. Howard. 



THE CAMPAIGN OF 1840 



The Great Tide Which Carried Harrison into 

the Presidential Chair — The Monster 

Gathering at Fort Meigs Who 

Placed That Log in the 

Well at the Fort 



THE following account of the cam- 
paign of 1840, and the monster 
meeting at Fort Meigs in that year, was 
written by Mr. C. W. Evers, and pub- 
lished in the Sentinel some years ago : 

Perhaps the most remarkable event in 
the political history of this country, was 
the campaign of 1840. General Harrison 
was the Whig candidate for the Presi- 
dency in 1836, but suffered defeat. The 
Whigs \\'ere not discouraged by their re- 
pulse in that year, nor did they lose con- 
fidence in their leader, whose war record 
gave him popularity Avith the masses of 
the people in all sections of the country. 

The campaign commenced in 1836 was 
not permitted to die out. The Whigs 
kept up their organizations, did not lay 
down their arms, but fortified their posi- 
tion and made every preparation for a 
renewal of the conflict in 1840, never for 
a moment losing confidence in their lead- 
er or abating their zeal in his support. 
The conflict on the part of the great 
leaders of the two parties was transferred 
from the stump to the halls of Congress, 
and there the battle was carried on with 
a zeal, eloquence and ability unequalled 



in any partisan struggle since the organ- 
ization of the Government. 

The Whigs held their National Con- 
vention at Philadelphia on the 4th of 
December, 1839, nearly a year before the 
election. This showed how earnestly 
they were enlisted in the fight, and the 
confidence which inspired their action. 
They felt that a long campaign would 
result to their advantage. They had no 
fear of discussion, no dread of investi- 
gation. 

Log Cabins and Hard Cider 

A Democratic correspondent of a Bal- 
timore paper, before the campaign of 
1843 had fairly opened, made the sneer- 
ing remark that General Harrison's 
habits and attainments were well calcu- 
lated to secure him the highest measure 
of happiness in a log cabin with an 
abundant supply of hard cider. The 
Whigs caught this up and from that 
lime forward log cabins and hard cider 
played conspicuous parts in the campaign. 
Van Buren, the candidate of the Demo- 
crats, was held up as a dapper little 
Imnd-box fop, using gold spoons and hav- 
ing not tlie least sympathy with the 
great working and producing masses of 
the people. This was a strong card for 
the Whigs and they made the most of it. 
At every convention log cabins were haul- 
ed in processions and hard cider was free 
and plentiful as water. Harrison hail- 
ing from the Buckeye State, buckeye 
l)ushes were used as the Whig emblem, 
and Imckoves were strung and worn as 



THE PIOXEEK 



beads by tbe ladies attending Whig gath- 
erings. The tide set strongly in favor of 
the Whigs, and even the correspondent of 
the Baltimore paper who spoke so sneer- 
ingly of the capacities and social charac- 
ter of General Harrison, was carried in- 
to the current and swept into the Whig 
party. 

Opening of the Campaign in Ohio 

The campaign was 02:)ened in Ohio by 
a monster ratification meeting in Colum- 
bus on Washington's birthday, February 
22. On the evening of the 21st all 
W hig residences and business houses in 
the city were illuminated. The streets 
were thronged with people from all parts 
of the State, and it was necessary to 
open nearly everv house in the then city 
of six thousand inhabitants to accommo- 
date those who iiad arrived from a dis- 
tance. The means of traveling were at 
that time very limited. Canals were 
closed, there were no railroads, stage 
coaches could carry but few persons, and 
the roads were so bad that they could 
make but slow progress, passengers often 
being compelled to get out and walk up 
hills or wliere the roads were particularly 
bad. But these things did not discour- 
age the zealous Whigs. They hitched up 
their own learns, hired teams, and sought 
conveyance to the capital of the state in 
every conceivable manner, determined to 
be on hand and participate in the inaug- 
uration of that eventful campaign. Not 
only this, but log cabins of huge dimen- 
sions were mounted upon wheels and 
hauled long distances to the capital. 
But the most striking feature of that 
great gathering was the representation of 
Fort Meigs — being a miniature copy of 
the Fort in every particular, hauled by 
six fine horses, it was 28 feet in length, 
the embankments were six inches high, 
surmounted by pickets ten inches high. 
Il was garrisoned by 40 men, contained 
seven block houses, twelve cannon, and 
was ill every respect a complete and per- 



f ( ct representation of the Fort at the 
foot of the rapids of the Maumee river. 
There were three flag-staffs on the Fort 
30 feet high. On one was the inscrip- 
tion, "Fort Meigs, besieged May, 1813"; 
on another was Harrison's celebrated re- 
sponse to the demand of the British of- 
ficer for the surrender of the Fort, "Tell 
General Procter when he gets possession 
of the Fort he will gain more honor, in 
the estimation of his King and country, 
than he would acquire by a thousand 
capitulations," and on the other was the 
dying words of the brave Lawrence, 
"Don't give up the ship." 

This miniature fort was made at Perrys- 
burg and hauled from that place to Co- 
lumbus. John C. Spink was Captain and 
went through with the Fort and the men. 
One of the guns on the Fort — a small 
brass piece — was cast at Toledo. The 
other guns were of iron and one of them 
was carried on the Commodore Perry the 
next season, and while being fired as the 
boat was coming up the lake on the 
fourth of July, exploded, severely wound- 
ing E. Graham, then the boat's carpenter, 
but subsequently treasurer of this coun- 
ty and Internal Revenue Assessor. 

On the morning of the 22d, the large 
numbers of people who had collected from 
a distance from Columbus during the 
previous day and night, foimed proces- 
sions on the various roads leading into 
the capital, and, notwithstanding the 
rain and mud, the wildest enthusiasm 
prevailed, and by ten o'clock the streets 
of Columbus were literally filled with the 
drenched delegations. Numerous mili- 
tary companies and bands were there,- 
and all marched through the streets in 
rain and mud, their enthusiasm seem- 
ingly heightened by the difficulties under 
which they were assembled. At that con- 
vention, after full consultation, the fol- 
lowing resolution was adopted: 

"Besolved, That it be recommended to 
the young men of the States of Ohio, 
Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



71 



Western Xew York, Pennsylvania and 
Virginia, to celebrate the next anniver- 
sar}- of the raising of the siege of Fort 
Meigs, in June, 1813, on the ground oc- 
cupied by that Fort/' 

Preparing for Fort Meigs Gathering 

The tide had set in so strongly in favor 
of the Whigs that the Democrats were 
thrown into confusion. They lost their 
temper, became demoralized, and those 
who did not enlist under the Whig ban- 
ner conducted a guerrilla warfare, mere- 
ly seeking to annoy the Whigs without 
securing any decided advantage. The 
greatest enthusiasm, amounting to al- 
most a degree of wild excitement, per- 
vaded the ranks of the Whigs, and from 
all parts of the country notes of prepara- 
tion to attend the Fort Meigs demon- 
stration were heard. Very naturally 
these indications of the coming gather- 
ing of the greatest partisan demonstra- 
tion ever witnessed in this country ex- 
cited and cheered the Whigs of Perrys- 
burg and Maumee, encouraging them to 
the greatest efforts in arranging for the 
complete success of the important enter- 
prise. The two villages, which were 
then about the only important places in 
tlie Maumee Valley, acted in concert, and 
no one was ever heard to complain of 
the manner in which they performed their 
])art of the work. 

The Log Cabin 

It was decided that a huge log cabin 
should be erected upon the Fort, to be 
used as a sort of headquarters by General 
Harrison for reception purposes. One 
log for thisi cabin was to be furnished 
by each township in Wood and Lucas 
coimties. The first log to arrive was 
brought from the neighborhood of the 
present village of S wanton. It was a fine 
stick of timber, about fifty feet in length. 
Its arrival was the signal for a jollifica- 
tion. The cannon was In'ought and taken 



to the Fort, followed by three barrels of 
hard cider. The Whigs of ■Maumee and 
Perrysburg united in this demonstration, 
and of course they had a jolly time^ 
which lasted until in the evening, when 
many of the men and a host of boys gave 
evidence of familiarity with these barrels 
of cider. 

The Fate of the First Log 

After tile Whigs had got over their 
jubilee, the next day some of them went 
up to the Fort to take another look at 
that log which had met with such a warm 
reception. Judge their surprise when 
they discovered that the guerrilla Demo- 
crats had gone to the Fort in the night 
and stuck said log into the Fort well. 
The well was about 50 or 60 feet deep. 
It was perhaps 15 feet from the top of 
the well to the water, then there was 
about fifteen feet of water and the bal- 
ance was mud. Not only .this, but the 
said guerrillas had bored a hole in the 
end of the log which projected out of the 
well about five feet, then they had got a 
hickory bush, shaved the end to fit the 
hole in the log and then planted said 
bush in the log. The bush was removed 
but the log could not be lifted out of the 
^\ell, and it remains there to this day 
and is seen by all who visit the Fort. It 
fitl}' illustrates the style of warfare 
adopted by the Democrats in ISIO. 

Who Placed the Log in the Well 

Until very recently only those engaged 
in the act knew who placed that log in 
the well. Time has served to cool the 
Whig blood which was made to boil on 
account of that outrage, and recently one 
of the actors in that drama gave us the 
history of how it was done and the names 
of those who did it. The parties who 
did it were Chas. F. Wilson, brother of 
the late Hon. Eber Wilson; Henry Ew- 
ing, Samuel Bucher, who lived in a 
cabin near the Fort; S. D. Westcott, a 
well known citizen of Perrysburg, and 



72 



THE PIONEER 



John Westcott, of Vaulue, Hancock coun- 
ty. Just how so few men could plant 
so large a log in a well the reader will 
be curious to know. A man by the name 
of Radway lived on a farm about half 
a mile above the Fort. He had a pair 
of breachy oxen and was in the habit of 
turning them upon the commons in their 
yoke. These cattle were at the Fort and 
the guerrillas drafted them into the ser- 
vice. Bucher got a log chain, the oxen 
were hitched to the log and it was drawn 
into position, the butt at the well and 
the other end resting upon the embank- 
ment. Thus situated the men managed 
to raise the small end and slide the log 
into the well. 

The Whigs were not discouraged by 
this little episode, but the logs kept com- 
ing in until every township had its re- 
presentative for the cabin. An eye wit- 
ness informs us that he never saw so 
fine a collection of logs. They ranged 
from 40 to 60 feet in length, were 
straight as an arrow and smooth as a 
ramrod. The Whigs were proud of their 
logs and contemplated the beautiful cabin 
to be made of them with great satisfac- 
tion. 

Another Guerrilla Raid 

It is singular that the fate of the first 
log did not operate to warn the Whigs 
against further raids from the Democrat- 
ic guerrillas, but they evidently thought 
the success of the first venture would 
satisfy their enemies. In this they were 
deceived, for one dark night some rascals, 
armed with cross-cut saws, entered the 
Fort and cut those beautiful logs into 
old fashioned back logs. To this day it 
is not known who handled those saws. 
Like the man who locked his stable door 
after the horse was stolen, the Whigs now 
built a bark guard house and hired a 
man, armed with a shot-gun, to keep 
watch. Other logs were procured and a 
huge double cabin was erected, Geo. W. 
Newton, of Perrysburg, acting in the 



capacity of master builder, and we be- 
lieve, John C. Spink, Julius Blinn, Judge 
Hollister, J. W. Smith and other Whigs 
of Perrysburg were the leading spirits in 
this preparatory work for the great con- 
vention. 

The Demonstration 

The Fort Meigs demonstration was 
worthy of the campaign of 1840. In 
fact, everything considered, it was the 
most remarkable political gathering ever 
witnessed in this country. It must be re- 
membered that facilities for travel were 
very limited at that time, and that Fort 
Meigs was then a point on the frontier. 
Notwithstanding these facts, the crowd 
assembled was estimated at from 40,000 
to 60,000 persons. It is safe to say that 
there were 50,000 peojile at the Fort on 
the 11th day of June, 1840. They came 
from all parts of the country, in all man- 
ner of conveyances. Capt. Wilkinson, 
with his Commodore Perry, escorted six- 
teen steamboats up the river, all loaded 
to their utmost capacity. Men are said 
to have sold their last cow to get the 
means to take them to that convention. 
Military companies from various cities 
were present, and a large number of 
bands furnished music. The processions 
on the roads leading to Perrysburg were 
simply immense, while thousands upon 
tliousands were streaming in for two or 
three days before the grand demonstra- 
tion, from all parts of the country. A 
mock siege occurred on the night of the 
tenth, and cannonading by the several 
batteries in attendance is described as 
having been sublimely grand. Every 
house and out-house in Perrysburg and 
Maumee was crowded with weary men 
who had rode in buggies and wagons 
hundreds of miles. Thousands slept up- 
on the ground in the woods adjoining the 
Fort. The wells in the upper portion of 
Perrysburg were soon pumped dry in re- 
lieving the thirst of the multitude. Gen- 
eral Harrison was present and while in 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



73 



Perr3'sburg was the guest of Judge Hol- 
lister, who then owned and occupied the 
residence recently owned by H. E. Peck. 
In the evening, in response to the calls 
of a great crowd of people, he appeared 
upon the grounds in front of the resi- 
dence and briefly addressed the moiltitude. 
The General, Tom Ewing and a large 
number of other distino-uished Whigs 



were present and addressed the people 
at the Fort. General Harrison spent a 
portion of his time in Maumee, the guest 
of Judge Forsythe. 

Thus was inaugurated and successfully 
concluded the greatest political demon- 
stration, all things considered, ever wit- 
nessed on this continent. 



THE WINTER OF 1842-43 



Referred To by Old S3ttlers as a Record 
Breaker Wholly Unsurpasse''. 



THE late Mr. C. W. Evers some years 
since wrote up the following ac- 
count of the severe winter of 1842-43, 
in Wood County : 

J. E. Tracy of Toledo, who was an 
early pioneer of Bowling Green, tells 
some of the incidents of the memorable 
hard winter of 1842-3 which is referred 
to by all the old people as a record break- 
er unsurpassed since white men planted 
their cabins in this part of the country. 

The autumn of 1842 had been a mild 
aud delightful one. The mazy Indian 
summer had hung over the landscape like 
a protecting curtain from the chill blasts 
of boreas. On the 25th day of Novem- 
ber in the after part of the day, came a 
change, sudden and severe. First dark, 
dense clouds overcast the sky; towards 
night rain fell. This soon changed to 
sleet, driven by a strong wind and so 
cold that men caught out with teams on 
the road had to leave their wagons and 
walk to keep from freezing. This, later 
turned to snow which covered the ground 
heavily in the morning. 

That snow, increased in depth from 
time to time, lay until some time in 
April, 1843. The ice in the Maumee at 
Waterville, was frozen solid down to the 



rocks on the day of spring election in 
April that year. 

The weather at times, in fact much 
of the time, was extremely cold, though 
there were no thermometers here then by 
which to gauge the temperature, as now. 
The mild autumn had lulled the scatter- 
ing settlers into neglect and their scanty 
supplies of vegetables, fruit and corn fod- 
der had been frozen solid in the unherald- 
ed storm, no more to be released till the 
following May. By March the scanty 
supply of prairie hay began to fail. The 
poor cattle starved, shivered and froze. 
Their pitiful bellowing and moans were 
harrowing to hear. The owners would 
drive them into the forest where elm and 
basswood trees were felled and the starv- 
ing brutes ate the buds and tender twigs. 
Other owners later, when the ground 
thawed, dug prairie dock (root of the 
rosin weed) and fed it to their horses 
and cattle. Despite all the efforts hun- 
dreds of cattle perished and those that 
survived were mere skeletons. Hogs 
could get no acorns from under the icy 
crust and there was no corn to feed them. 
They crawled into bunches where they 
were found in the spring frozen solid as 
rocks. Poultry and small animals, wild 
and domestic, perished. Squirrels, coon 
and birds were found frozen in hollow 
trees and logs, even the muskrat in his 
icy home. ^ 

That was 61 years ago, but none who 
lived at that time will ever forget the 
harrowing vicissitudes of that winter 



74 



THE PIONEER 



and the destitution and sickness of the 
following spring and summer. 

The present winter though unusually 
severe, would not, though equally as cold 
as that of 42-3 bear upon us of today as 
it did upon those scantily prepared pio- 
neers of that time. We have warm hous- 
es, clothing and stores of supplies both 
for man and beast. There can be no 
comparison. We can never know nor 
even imagine the terrors of that gloomy 
period, to those who lived here and 
shared its hardships. 

The unprecedented conditions that 
exist now in the Maumeo river are only 
a sample of what dangerous surprises 
nature's working forces may bring when 
a certain combination of circumstances 
exist. Then it is that man's best efforts 
are set at naught. He is as puny as the 
fretful ant. His bridge spans are not 
high enough. His dykes and dams are 
not strong enough. His granite and 
steel walls are not proof against the de- 



vouring breath of llame and heat. Man's 
efforts only help to make the destruction 
gi-eater. The Maumee is hedged and ob- 
structed with piers, docks and earth fill- 
ings. The raging torrents armed with 
l)locks of floating ice only mock at these 
artificial contrivances of man and sweep 
them away as if but tinsel or cobwebs. 
How like the ant hill or the cobweb of 
the spider are the works of man, in that 
each alike are only subject to power of 
destruction. 

Had not man planted his cabin here 
nor disturbed the Maumee we would not 
be comparing the present winter with 
that of 42-43 in points of severity and 
dcstructiveness. 

So long as man asserts himself along 
side of and against nature's modes, which 
will be as long as he exists, so long must 
he cope with hard winters, hot summers, 
drouth, floods and other pleasant and un- 
pleasant manifestations of nature's ca- 
prices and whims. 



SAGE CHILD TRAGEDY 



Most 



Horrible Child Murder by a Father 
Whose Mind Was Wrecked by 
Religious Fervor 



VALENTINE SAGE married a full- 
blooded Indian girl, adopted by 
and raised in the family of Eev. Isaac 
Van Tassel, one of the early missionaries 
to the Indians, on the Maumee. Some- 
time in 1852-3 their oldest boy named 
George, aged about thirteen years, took 
sick and died, which threw him into a 
despondent state of mind, and he gradu- 
ally turned his thoughts to religious mat- 
ters, and would shout, sing and pray 
alternately in the wildest manner. 

Some six months afterward Sage at- 



tended a religious revival held by Rev. 
P. C. Baldwin, at the old Plain Church, 
and became so wrought up by religious 
excitement that he would shout and- pray 
at the top of his voice all the way home 
irom the church at night. 

One stormy, snowy morning in March, 
during the progress of the meeting he 
arose quite early and made a fire in the 
stove, singing loudly all the time. Pres- 
ently he went to the bed where his wife 
and child lay and took the cliild, as his 
wife who was awake- supposed, to the 
stove to keep it warm while she dressed 
herself, but she saw him hurry out of 
doors. She sprang up and ran to the 
door just in time to see the head of her 
darling child dashed against a log on the 
wood pile. She gave an agonizing 
scream, when he seized the ax and com- 
pelled h(^r to go to bed, after which he 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



75 



brought the dead child to her. He sung 
and shouted and seemed to be entirely 
happy, while his wife expected every 
moment that either her own or some of 
the other children's lives would be next 
sacrificed. He forbid any of them leav- 
ing the house, holding the ax all the 
time. 

Finally the oldest girl escaped from 
the chamber window and ran to a neigh- 
bor's, Mr. John Whitehead, about a half 
a mile distant. Whitehead hurried down 
but was threatened his life if he came 
even in the yard. He saw that he was 
powerless to relieve the prisoners in the 
house and that his presence only increas- 
ed the rage of the madman every mo- 
ment and rendered the fact of Sage's 
family more perilous. He hurried away 
for help and returned shortly after, with, 
we believe, Henry Huff, S. W. St. John 



and John Evers, all active and determin- 
ed men. They came up unobserved by 
Sage. Two of them made an attempt 
to hold a parley with him, but he stood 
in the door brandishing his ax threaten- 
ing any with death who should attempt 
to approach. While two of the men at- 
tracted his attention from the front, 
Evers climbed in at the chamber window 
and down the ladder, and unnoticed by 
Sage, stole up behind him and clasped 
him tightly around the waist under the 
arms. Even with this advantage it was 
hard to avoid the blows of his ax. His 
strength seemed superhuman. Some one 
finally seized him by the throat, and once 
out of wind they succeeded in tying him 
and he was sent to the jail at Perrysburg, 
^\■here ne afterward died a raving mad- 
man.— C. W. E. 



HOLLISTER'S PRAIRIE 



A Wild Region, Picturesque and Attractive 
for the Hunter of Wild Game 



ABOUT eight miles southeast of Gil- 
ead lay that stretch of low grassy 
prairie or swamp, as it was most of the 
year ; only in the very driest of seasons, in 
mid-summer did it become terra firma, its 
tall grass, growing from 6 to 10 feet 
high, and with skirting thickets and 
forests, furnished a paradise of security 
for deer and bear. The reports of this 
prairie, carried by hunters to the settle- 
ment at Perrysburg, attracted the atten- 
tion of the Hollisters, then living there, 
and they located a cattle ranch with 
Ralph 0. Keeler as partner and manager 
of the business. The headquarters of 
the ranch was on the high ridge Just 
north of Weston, where the old Keeler 
homestead house formerly stood. The 
ridge is now a portion of the Weston 



cemetery. Soon the Hollisters and Keel- 
er had large droves of cattle, roaming 
at will over the prairies and through the 
forests on what was yet all government 
land. The tall prairie grass furnished 
ample pasturage, and the sink holes in 
the prairie, such as the ''Stone Pond" in 
Plain township, furnished drinking plac- 
es in the driest of seasons. 

Such a scene as the herds on the broad 
acres of pasturage, viewed from the over- 
looking ridges, at its best ana most pic- 
turesque, might well have tempted the 
coolest brain to visionary dreams of Ar- 
cadian bliss, such dreams as caused the 
educated and wealthy German, Carl 
Xil^elung to sink his fortune in the 
swampy pasture at the northeast side of 
the prairie, in later years. — Sentinel, 
18S1. 



Wood county was organized April 1, 
1820, with 13 other counties, and Mau- 
mee was the coimty seat until 1823. 



76 



THE PIONEER 



MILTON TOWNSHIP 



The Struggles of the First Settlers — Their 

Privations— At Work on the 

Hand Mill 



IN the Sentinel of April 21, 1881, a 
pioneer says: 

About the year 1834-35, began the first 
white settlement, in what is now known 
as Milton township, in Wood county, 
Ohio, Prior to this time it was a howl- 
ing wilderness; the foot of a white man 
had scarcely trod on its territory. The 
wild Indian o-r red man of the forest, the 
bear, the wolf, the panther and wild cat, 
held full sway, unmolested by the ap- 
proach of civilization. About this time 
there began to be a movement made in 
some of the eastern counties of Ohio, to 
go west. The Maumee Valley had its 
attractions, and the traveler in search of 
a home had his attention drawn to Wood 
county by its rich and inexhaustable soil. 
Landing at Perrysburg, they would wend 
their way up the Maumee, and striking 
the mouth of Beaver Creek, a mile be- 
low Grand Eapids (then Gilead), they 
would ascend the creek to explore the rich 
country before them. The earlier set- 
tlers began to locate along the creek in 
Henry county and soon they began to 
spread out over more territory. 

To tell the story of pioneer life in the 
wilds of Milton and adjoining townships 
it may seem strange to some why I should 
connect Henry county and Liberty town- 
shi]i and associate the names of those at 
sueli remote distances. 

In those days we understood and ap- 
preciated that word neighbor. It was 
not used then in that narrow, contracted 
sense in which it is used now, but it was 
born of that higher and prouder philan- 
thropy, as taught in Bible lessons, where 
a man fell among robbers; so we in the 



earlier days of our pioneer life in the 
wilds of Milton and adjoining townships 
were all neighbors, for miles and miles, 
and when we met, there was a happy 
greeting, a cordial and hearty shaking of 
hands, as though it really meant some- 
thing. 

We had no roads either, we just went 
zig-zag through me woods, around trees, 
over and around fallen timber, through 
the water, fighting the mosquitoes, to a 
neighbor's with a sack of corn on our 
backs to grind it on a hand mill, to get 
corn meal to make johnny cake for the 
family (it was johnny cake, coon and 
possum fat), and glad to get that. We 
had no water mills nearer than Perrys- 
burg, and not much to get ground when 
we got there. And it took us from four 
to five days to go and come; the only 
conveyance was by ox teams and a cart. 

Old Billy Hill (as he was familiarly 
known) had a hand mill, and it was 
kept going from morning until midnight, 
people coming from miles and miles 
around. Dozens of men and women have 
licen there at one time waiting their turn 
to get their opportunity to turn the mill, 
and some times, when so thronged, some 
would leave their corn and go home to 
their hungry families, and come again 
to take their places at the mill. Of 
course this mill was a rude structure; 
four upright posts framed together and 
the stones set in them, and the propelling 
power was applied by an upright shaft, 
with an iron spout placed in a thimble 
in the upper burr, and the top held by 
passing through a hole in a board, and 
then two men taking hold of this up- 
right shaft and turning the burr. It 
was a slow process, but it was the only 
alternative we had. This was afterward 
changed, so as to make it more conven- 
ient; it was arranged, so four men could 
take hold of cranks like a grind stone 
and made to grind much faster. Then 
we all thought that we had found a para- 
dise. 



SCKAP-BOOK. 



77 



GOING TO MILL 



How Wood County Pioneers Took Their Grist 
to Mills on the River Raisin 



A PIONEER writes to the Sentinel in 
1881, the following gi-aphic de- 
scription of "going to mill" : 

The nearest grist mills for the settlers 
along the Manmee were located at the 
mouth of the river Raisin in Michigan, 
where the city of Monroe now is, and at 
Cold Creek in what was then Huron 
count}^ — now Erie county, Ohio, near 
where the village of Castalia now is. 
The distance in either case being not far 
from seventy miles, and with the easy 
going ox teams and the horrible roads, 
going to mill was a vast undertaking, 
the Journey often taking ten days or two 
weeks to perform even if the hungry pio- 
neer did not have to camp out, or hunt 
work in the neighborhood of the mill, 
and wait for sufficient water to accumu- 
late in the crazy old dams, to enable the 
miller to turn out their grist. 

Alexander Brown, once worked, log- 
ging, at Cold Creek, and then had to 
turn in and help grind his own grist on 
Sunday, and even then did not finish be- 
fore the water gave out, and he was 
forced to leave a portion of his grist at 
the mill, the miller promising to grind 
it and send it to Perrysburg by the first 
chance. Mr. Brown got his grist in a 
little over two months all right. 

When an expedition was fitted out to 
go to mill either to the mouth of Raisin 
river or to Cold Creek, it usually be- 
came a neighborhood affair, and was con- 
sidered a bigger undertaking than a 
trans-continental journey would now. A 
"team," consisting of two or three yokes 
of oxen, would be rigged to a wagon, 
and the grists of the whole neighborhood 
be loaded on, with feed for the cattle and 
a sack of potatoes, coffee pot and frying 



pan, and other needed camp equipage, 
and amidst much excitement and great 
shoutings of "good byes," the expedition 
would gaily flounder away on their trip 
of a week or two to mill. For the meat 
supply of such expeditions, the settlers 
depended upon the chance of game sup- 
ply along the route, and usually some 
noted hunter accompanied the caravan 
as chief forager, whose unerring rifle 
would easily, every day, from the woods, 
supply the meager larder with juicy veni- 
son steaks, or a young bear roast. 

Sometimes, when the country was 
flooded, and the rude trails through the 
forests back to the older settlements were 
impassable even to a man on horseback, 
the bread material of our hardy pioneers 
was prepared as was that of the ancient 
Hebrews, every family doing its own 
grinding, in their handmills, or as their 
Indian neighbors did theirs, in a sort of 
rude mortar attached to a spring pole, 
always remembering that among the In- 
dians the ladies manipulated the hominy 
mill. 

Uncle John Gingery has in his pos- 
session today, a coffee mill that he pur- 
chased in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1826. 

The old mill is still hale and heartv, 
ai.d has good teeth yet for a pioneer of 
57 years old. Bushels of buckwheat and 
corn have met the crushing influence of 
that old mill, and bolted through a fine 
meal sieve have furnished "Snap Jack" 
material that fried in "bar" fat, went 
far toward nourishing the sinewy arm of 
the old pioneers when by reason of the 
impassable condition of roads or the in- 
clement weather, they were prevented 
from going to mill. 



It is a matter of fact that in the Mau- 
mee Valley a greater number of battles 
have been fought, and with greater re- 
sults than in any similar extent of ter- 
ritory in the Union. 



THE PIONEER 



ATTACKED BY WOLVES 



Mahlon Meeker's Struggle at Night With a 
Pack of These Animals 



OA'E night as Mr. Meeker was going 
home followed by one of his dogs 
he suddenly heard the howl of a wolf near 
the trail he was following. This was 
instantly answered by another wolf and 
presently a wolf appeared in front of 
him. The dog slunk close to him. He 
had no means of defense and so Icnew 
it was just as safe to go ahead as to turn 
back. So he walked boldly up to the 
one in the trail until almost within 
reach of it when it sprang to one side 
and joined with two others in the rear, 
when they all broke out in a deafening, 



startling chorus of howls. After going 
a mile or so he came to where a tree had 
been l)lown down and ran into the top 
to get a stick. While here, four more 
wolves joined in the chase, and on taking 
the trail again they became so fierce and 
bold and approached so close that several 
times he succeeded in striking one with 
his club, after which they would howl 
and snap their teeth in disappointed 
rage, but continue to follow him until 
he arrived on the ridge at the cabin of 
Howard, who had a great fire in his fire 
place, the light of which shone through 
the unchinked cracks and which with two 
savage dogs finally scared the wolves off. 
Meeker thinks if he had tripped his foot 
and fallen they would have all attacked 
him at once. They were of the large 
brown species and seemed maddened 
with hunger. — C. W. E. 



WILD HOGS 



Some Startling Experiences With Them by 
Mr. Meeker 



THE earliest recollections we have from 
the first settlers all speak of the 
great numbers of wild hogs that frequent- 
ed the woods in the Black Swamp. They 
were more numerous at times than the 
deer and many years later they were cap- 
tured in the dense woods north of what 
is called the "Devil's Hole." 

Some of the early settlers claimed that 
they were not, nor could not be the pro- 
geny of the domestic hog, being entirely 
wild and untamable and fierce of dis- 
position. But we incline to the belief 
that they were originally strays, or cast 
offs from the quartermaster's ' department 
of Hull's or Harrison's army. Perhaps 
Mad Anthony Wayne and his legion 
in 1794, after tlio victorv, felt so well 



that they turned all their hogs loose, if 
any they had, to devour the Indian corn- 
fields growing along the Maumee. At 
all events it is known that large droves 
of hogs were brought in during the war 
of 1812, and it is not at all unreason- 
able to suppose this the origin of the 
\ast herds of wild hogs which roamed 
the woods many years ago. We refer to 
this matter in this place in connection 
with a couple of incidents related by Mr. 
Meeker. 

Wild Hogs Tree a Wcff 

While in search of some horses one 
day in company with one of the Deckers, 
they heard a loud commotion some dis- 
tance away among the wild hogs. It 
grew louder and louder until their cu- 
riosity led them to cautiously approach 
the place or as near as they dared, when 
they spied a wolf on a high fallen log 
barely out of reach of the infuriated ani- 
mals, which seemed to have gathered 
tlu>re by hundreds — at least the ground 



SC'KAP-BOOK. 



79 



was covered with them. But the wolf 
may have seen the men, for he sprang 
off his perch and was instantly torn to 
pieces and devoured. The hunters were 
only able, after the hogs left, to find a 
small string of his hide. 

Meeker Treed by Wild Hogs 

At another time ]\Ir. jMccker was re- 
turning home M'hen he heard the cries 
of a young pig, which seemed to have 
been deserted by the rest of the herd 
and was too weak to get along. Mr. 
Meeker took it up thinking to take it 
home with him, when it set up such a 
squeeling as soon l)rought the whole 
drove upon him. He heard them com- 



ing just in time to drop the pig and 
hastily climb a small tree as the excited 
animals gathered beneath him foaming 
and gnashing their teeth, while several 
ferocious old l)oars fought with each oth- 
er for the privilege of gouging the bark 
off the tree with their tusks. After much 
iictisy demonstrations and watching the 
l)risoner for a time they began to drop 
oft' and finally the siege was entirely 
raised by the departure of the last hog 
— a surly old boar, a very patriarch 
whose large tusks and fierce mien might 
have well challenged comparison with 
any dwellers of his kind in the famous 
Black Swamp.— C. W. E. 



THE MAUMEE COUNTRY 



Once Regarded as One of the Most'Dreary, 

Desolate and Uninviting Regions 

of Earth 



THE late Dr. Geo. B. Spencer wrote 
to the Sentinel early in 1884, as 
follows : 

Before the year 1820, Wood county wa« 
a part of an indefinite, undivided, un- 
explored wilderness, known as "Xorth- 
west Ohio," with its county seat at Belle- 
fontaine, and but few settlements in all 
the "Black Swamp" of the "Miami of 
the Lakes." Waynesfield township of 
liOgan county, included within its limits, 
all of the present counties of Wood and 
Hancock, and in that year, 1820, the 
total tax for all purposes collected in the 
said township was $139.15. In 1823, on 
the 28th of May, the township of Waynes- 
field was divided by the organization of 
Perrysbvirg township, which included all 
of the present county of Wood. 

"The Manmee Country", was by this 



time celebrated from one end of the 
United States to the other, as the most 
forsaken, desolate and ague-smitten wil- 
derness of tangled forests and inhospit- 
able swamps, only excelled in dreariness 
and desolation, perhaps, by the great 
"Dismal Swamp"" of Virginia, or the un- 
])enetrated everglades of Florida. 

Hull's troops had cut and floundered 
a passage through this country on their 
way to the disgraceful surrender at De- 
troit, in 1812. Mad Anthony Wayne's 
victorious army, liad 18 years before this, 
iu 1T91, followed down along the swampy 
"Miamji of the Lakes"' from Fort Defi- 
ance to Fort 3Iiami, to punish the re- 
I'lactory Indians, and as the soldiers of 
\V;i\ne. Hull and Harrison dispersed to 
their homes back in the old colonies, 
they carried with them their soldier sto- 
ries of the horrible swamps of the 
"Miami of the Lakes," as the Maumee 
river was then called. 

See how names are changed, and new 
words made. The river was by its earl- 
iest French settlers, called the Miami, 
]-)ronounced by the French "Me-ah-me," 
and by the cornipted influence of the 



80 



Indians' and backwoodsmen's attempts at 
pronunciation, it became first "Me-aw- 
me" and then "Mau-mee" until now as 
we pronounce the "Mi-am-i" of southern 
Ohio and the "^'Maumee" of northern 
Ohio 3'ou wouldn't suspect any blood 
relation. x\nd as "Maumee" it became 
a famed locality and went heralded 
in song and wierd story as the place 
where "Potatoes they grow small on 
Mau-mee, on Mau-mee." 

But in spite of its drawbacks, and un- 
pleasant natural features, and the unfa- 
vorable reports circulated far and wide 
about the country, the speculating spirit 
of some of Wayne's soldiers and those of 
the war of 1812, was attracted to the 
Maumee Valley by its wonderful game 
suppl}', and the hopes of a remunerative 
traffic in furs and peltries with the In- 
dians, and traders; posts were establish- 
ed at several places in the valley im- 
mediately after the peace following the 
war of 1812. 

Settlements started first near the shore 
of the lake, then gracmally spreading up 
the rivers and tributaries. In 1821, 



THE PIONEER 

enough settlers were located about Fort 
Meigs, at the foot of the rapids in the 
river, to demand a better means of com- 
munication with their county seat, 
Bellefontaine, than was presented by 
HulFs old trace, in its serpentine wand- 
erings southward through this county; 
so what is called yet the Wapakoneta 
road, was petitioned for, granted, sur- 
veyed, and work begun on it in 1821. 
The road led from Fort Meigs along up 
tlie river on the south side, to near the 
mouth of Beaver Creek, then followed 
nearly the course of Beaver Creek, and so 
en south of Wapakoneta. Then the 
trade of the Indians at the head of the 
rapids, attracted settlers along up the 
river. At that time there were no other 
white settlers between that point and 
Fort Defiance, where the town of Defi- 
ance now is. 

There was quite a good sized Indian 
village on the Maumee and scattering 
outlying settlements along up Beaver 
Creek, and on the sand ridges south from 
the river, the Indians dwelling in peace 
and harmony with their white neighbors. 



WESTON TOWNSHIP 



Gradual Accession of Settlers — Organization 
and the First Election 



IN his reminiscences, the late Dr. G, B. 
Spencer wrote to the Sentinel in 
1884, as follows: 

Year after year during the Twenties, 
white settlers came, and by occasional 
accessions of other families, the little 
settlement at the mouth of Bear Creek 
and at the head of the rapids of the 
Maumee, grew, until in the spring of 
1830, they demanded a township organ- 
ization for themselves. The reader will 
please remember that up to this time 



all of what is now Wood county, was in- 
cluded in one big township called Perrys- 
Ijurg, which township has been divided 
and sub-divided since that time. 

So in the spring of 1830, the settlers 
at the head of the rapids and mouth of 
Beaver Creek and at Bear Rapids or 
Otsego, petitioned for a new township to 
be called "Ottawa," and the township 
was duly created by the county commis- 
sioners, but before the time came to elect 
township officers in the spring of 1831, 
the name was changed from Ottawa to I 
Weston. 

The township as first organized includ- 
ed all of what is now Weston, Milton, 
Jackson and the west part of Washing- 
ton townships, or a strip of land six 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



81 



miles wide, and extending back from the 
river to what is now the southern limit 
of Wood county. 

First Election 

The first election ever held in Weston 
township was on the 4th day of April, 
1831, when all of the voters met at the 
house of Edward Howard, and proceed- 
ed to elect themselves, for at that first 
election there were barely enough voters 
to intelligently fill the offices. The first 
ofi&cers were as follows: Trustees, Ed- 
ward Howard, Wm. Pratt and Emanuel 
Arnold; treasurer, E. M. Howard; clerk, 
11. A. Howard; poor overseers, M. P. 
Morgan and Jas. Donaldson; constables, 
Wm. Korth and Wm. Wonderly; fence 
viewers, Wm. Loughry and Joseph 
North; Justices of the peace, Alexander 
Brown and Emanuel Arnold, who did 
not receive their commissions from the 
governor until in August of that year. 

James Donaldson was also elected road 
supervisor, and the only road that came 
under his supervision was the road lead- 
ing along down the river bank from the 
settlement to Fort Meigs, which was a 
poor excuse for a road at that time, 
being only partially chopped out and not 
worked at all. For the care of this, the 
only road in the township, except the 
Indian trails, Mr. Donaldson, received 
the princely salary of seventy-five cents. 

The only officer who received any sal- 
ary during the first year was the treasur- 
er, E. M. Howard, who drew, all at one 
time, seventy-five cents. So for $1.50 
Weston township was as peacefully gov- 
erned as she has ever been since that 
date, and I find no record of any specula- 
tion or defalcation. The Fence Viewers' 
office in 1831 was almost a sinecure, 
unless they went to inspect the rude 
brush fences that surrounded the first 
clearings. But the settlements were 
looking up. new people coming in every 
year, and during the next five years, 



niore than 50 families came into Weston 
township. 

Start of Village 

We may say then that the village of 
Weston was not started until in 1854 
when the Taylor saw mill was put in 
operation. Thirty years ago the site of 
our town was all farm land and used as 
such. In 1854 Jonathan Crom built 
his shanty, started a saloon and kept a 
few groceries. Benjamin West came in 
1854, and wishing to get an eligible site 
for his blacksmith shop, went directly 
across the street from Crom's saloon, and 
located his forge just about where Indle- 
kofer's bar stands in his saloon today. 
His shop was a mere shanty. In 1855 
Levi Taylor built the front half of the 
l)uilding now owned by Ames, and in 
the fall of that year, put in the first 
stock of dry goods and groceries that 
tlie village ever saw. 

Van Tassel Killed 

Many of our older citizens frequently 
speak of the celebrated missionary, Isaac 
Van Tassel, one of the pioneer preachers 
who frequently visited Weston and talk- 
ed to the few citizens in the little old 
school house. He was found dead on 
the Gilead road, about 20 rods west of 
Avhere Allen Bortell now lives. He was 
on his way to his home in Plain town- 
ship, from Gilead. It is not known 
whether his horse threw him off, or 
whether he died suddenly of heart dis- 
ease. It occurred March 2, 1849. 



In 1697 French forts were built at 
Fort Wayne and at the foot of the 
Eapids. 

The entire ISTorthwestern territory for 
some years had but three county organ- 
izations. These were Washington, Ham- 
ilton and Wayne, the latter embracing 
Wood countv. 



82 



THE PIOXEKU 



ATTACKED BY SAVAGES 



Settlers in Flight Their Homes Burned 
The Account of Navarre Manor 
Proves a Lame Guide 



THE late Hezt'kiah L. Hosmer said, on 
tlie autlioritv of Peter Xavarre and 
others, that Pierre Minard, known as 
Peter ]\lanor. received the news of war 
from a Delaware named >Sac-a-niane, who 
in passing through the settlement said : 

"I shall go to Owl Creek. I shall kill 
sonie of the Ijong Knives before 1 come 
back, and will show you some of their 
scalps. In ten days after 1 get back all 
the hostile tribes will hold a council at 
Maiden : very soon after that, we shall 
come to this place and kill all the Yan- 
kees. You, Manor, are a good French- 
man, and must not tell them what I say." 

Sac-a-manc returned, after an absence 
of six days, and showed Manor three 
scalps, which he said were those of 
a family he had jiiur(k']'e(l on Owl Creek. 
He repeated to Manor in confidence that 
it was the intention of the Indians to 
come to the valley in Force suflicient to 
massacre the Amei-icaii settlers. This 
intelligence ^lanor communicated to 
Major S]iaffoi-(l, accdinitaiiicil witli advice 
t(' leave the valley immediately. The 
major laughed, and dismissed the subject 
witli some remark expressive of incredu- 
lity, and ^lanor \oft him, promising that 
>lioidd he Icai'n of any further cause of 
alai'ui lie would lei him know. 

About a montli after iliis conversation, 
a num by the iiamr of Miller (some ac- 
counts say Gordon ). who bad lived many 
years with the Ottawas. and who was well 
known to Major S])afl'ord, entered his 
house in breathless haste, and told him 
that at no grcali'f distance than Mon- 
clova tlu've Mils a hand of fifty Pottawa- 
tomies. on the march from their country 
on the St. .los"|)h i>i\ci-. to join the hos- 



tile Indians at Maiden, and take part in 
the council spoken of by Sac-a-manc. 
'I'hev bad plundered and set fire to the 
huildings at ^lonclova, and would soon 
he at the foot of the Eapids. 

P>ut little time was left to escape. 
'1 he majoi' with his family and the few 
settlers that had remained in the valley, 
hastened immediately to the river, where 
they dislodged and launched a large 
liarge. in which some officers had de- 
scended the river from Fort Wayne the 
year before. Kaising a sail made of a 
bed blanket, they were enabled, by dint 
of hard rowing and a favorable breeze, 
to I'ound the point and get under cover 
of old Fort Miami just as the Indians 
made their appearance on tln^ bank, 
where ]\Iaumee City is built, ami before 
the boat ])assed Eagle Point they saw 
the tlanu's ascending from the "homes 
they bad just deserted. This little band 
of fugitives, favored with fair winds, 
made a safe ])assage in their crazy craft 
to the (^uakei- settlement at Milan, where 
they remained until after the war. Ma- 
nor says they wt-re ])anic-stricken, and 
left their horses, cattle, and most of their 
household goods. Their property was 
taken by the Indians, who completed their 
work by burning every dwelling, 1)elong- 
ing to an American, in that part of the 
\alley. This accomplished, they pursued 
their course to Maiden, to attend the In- 
dian council spoken of by Sac-a-manc. 

Not long aftjer Hull's surrender, the 
French settlers remaining at the foot of 
the rapids, received a call from a party 
of sixty Delawares, who arrived there in 
adA'ance of the main body of the British 
anny, on their march to Fort Wayne. 
^Fanor says that he, with some of his 
neighbors, was standing in front of Beau- 
grand's store, at Maumee, when the In- 
dians came nut of the woods — that they 
drew up in line, and each put his gun 
i( his sbouldei' and aimed, as if to fire at 
the little grou]) of settlers. Beaugrand 
came out and waved a white handker- 



Si'HAI'-HOOK. 



So 



( liicf. TIr'V dro})pc'(l tlK'ir inuskcls, aiul 
approached the ^^tore on a mm, and re- 
mained a few minutes. An hour after 
their departure, ahout 100 British sol- 
diers, and as many Pottawatomies and 
\\'yandots. came up. Tlieir first inquiry 
was for guides, ^lanor. fivaii ])rudential 
motives was seized with su(hleii and se- 
vere himeness ; l»ut it wouhl not (h). The 
oilieer in eonnnand pressed him into ser- 
Aiee as a guide, and hnne as he seemed, 
lie was eompelled to eonihiet this eom- 
]iany,to xhv head of the rapids. Here 
his lameness so inei'easi'd. that his ])eTse- 
cutors dismissed liim. and he si't out on 
Ids return home. At the foot of Pres(pie 
isle Hill, he met Colonel Klliott, the of- 
ficer in command of the detachment, and 
the remainder of the troops and Indians 
composing it. Elliott examined him 
closely, and on learning that he had heen 
employed as a guide, pei'mitted him to 
go on his way, 

Mr. C. W. Evers makes the following 
criticism in regard to the incidents ahove 
criven : 



The al)()\e dilfers d'oni other accounts 
as to the time the settlers left the 
Kapids. Jn this. Mr. Hosmer quotes 
Manor incoi-reetly. no douht. Hull had 
news of the declaration of war Julv 2nd. 
ih' surrendered his army August 16th. 
From Mr. Hosmer's statement, we wouhl 
\:: led to helieve that the settlers fled on 
hearing wai- had heen declared. Mrs. 
C'reen ami Clark hoth say the flight was 
:;fter the surrendt'r of H\dl. Their ver- 
sion is douhtless the correct one. In the 
history of Erie county, incidental men- 
tion is nuuh' of ^lajor Spatford heing at 
tlie mouth of Huron river, with his fam- 
ily, in a Ijoat, about September 1st. The 
reasonable inference is that he had but 
recently sailed from the Maumee, that is, 
ill the latter part of August, after the 
surrender. The i)robabilities are that in 
the inqn'mling danger, after Hulks sur- 
rendei', the settlers foresaw that they 
were no longer safe for even a single day: 
that in the confusion and anxiety of the 
liour each acted as his hopes or fears 
impelled him. 



BOWLING GREEN 



Something About Its Early History The 
First Log Cabin How the Town Re- 
ceived Its Name Interesting Inci- 
dents of the Past 



PPOBABLY there has been no more 
accurate and succinct account of the 
eai'ly history of Bowling Green, than the 
Icl lowing, jjcnned by the late C. W. Evers, 
wliose studious efforts in gathering every 
i]u-ident connected with the pioneer his- 
■tory of Wood county, rendered him a 
]-elial)le authority in all that pertains to 
t hat eai'lv jx'riod : 

Hull's March 

The tii'st time white men came to dis- 



turl) the forest solitudes where Bowling 
(ireen now stands, was in June, 1812, 
when Hulks army passed here, marching 
'Voni Dayton to Detroit. 

'Idiat column of troops, preceded by 
guidt's, scouts and axnien. followed in 
tui'u hy tlu' ca\alry hatlalion, with its 
gaudv ])ennons, escorting the command- 
ing geneial with his gaily uniformed 
>taff retinue, then the infantry, field 
hands, artillci-y and trains formed a 
pageant which even to-day would attract 
all Bowling (ireen to the east side of 
town, aboui where the T. it 0. C. rail- 
vav track liis. That is about on the 
line the troops held, until lU'ar Kidge 
>ireet. when they tui'ned a little to the 
west, coming out on the Maumee nearly 
opposite Walerville. That was the first 
\.ai:-on trail thi-oui^-h the interior of Wood 



84 



THE PIONEER 



county^ and the only one for the two suc- 
ceeding decades. The land was then 
owned by the Indians. After the war, 
in 1817, at a treaty at the foot of the 
Maumee Eapids, the United States bought 
the land, at a price slightly less than four 
cents an acre, and in 1819 sent surveyors 
liere, which was the second appearance of 
white men on official business. In 1821 
the final surveys were completed and the 
plats made, 'when the lands were ready 
for market. 

The Black Swamp 

Unfortunately the Black Swamp coun- 
try, after the war of 1813, had a worse 
reputation, if possible, than ever; the 
soldiers and others who had been here, 
told horrible stories about it. Few buy- 
ers of land came — none to the interior of 
the county. Those who stopped inva- 
riably located on or near the river; so 
that, aside from roving parties of In- 
dian hunters and occasional white fur- 
traders, or the weekly trips of the old 
Bellefontaine mail carrier, the interior of 
the county was practically unknown and 
shunned by settlers for more than a de- 
cade after its survey. Prior to the year 
1828, Collister Haskins, at Portage, was 
the only settler between Findlay and the 
Maumee settlement. 

The First Cabin 

Some few land entries were made in 
Plain and Center in 1831, but the pio- 
neer entry in the present corporation of 
Bowling Green, was made October 29, 
1832, by Elisha Martindale; the tract, 
40 acres in the northwest part of town, 
lying on both sides of Haskins road or 
street, is known as the Clinton Fay place. 
Martindale later bought 120 acres more; 
he built his cabin where the present Fay 
house stands, near the great willow tree 
just west of the road, the following 
spring, 1833. Careful inquiry has failed 
to discover evidence of any cabin here 
prior to that date; Lee Moore, Henry 



Walker, Jacob Stoutfer and others came 
and built in the summer and fall of '33. 
Alfred Thurstin began his cabin in No- 
vember, 1833, as did Joseph flollington 
sr., but so far as known the Martindale 
cabin was the first, and stood on the first 
land entry in what is now Bowling 
Green. 

(Without going into all the particu- 
lars of the land entries given at that 
early day and noted by Mr. Evers, we 
will simply give the names of a few of 
those who entered land. Among them 
v/ere Joseph Hollington, Benjamin Eeed, 
J. M. and Samuel Lamb, Stephen Ward, 
Thomas Tracy, Henry Walker, Andrew 
Eace, Jonathan Fay, Eobert Barr, Alfred 
I'hurstin, Lee Moore, David Hickson and 
others.) 

A Few Came to Stay 

These few notes from the land entry 
books, though not including all entries 
embraced in the present corporation of 
Bowling Green, neither the names of all 
purchasers, are yet sufficient to afford the 
reader some idea of the pioneer real estate 
men of the town and when they first 
came. Some, perhaps only one or two^ 
of all those named bought merely for 
speculation. Most came in quest of 
homes. Some tried life here, got tired of 
it and left. Of those faithful ones who 
remained to buffet with adversity and 
fight the battle thr.t was eventually to 
make a town here, of which they never 
even dreamed perhaps, most, alas, have 
passed from this stage of action; their 
toils and trials have ceased. They did 
their part bravely and well; their work 
of subduing the wilderness, begun more 
than half a century ago, and its results, 
are before us to-day. Their descendants 
and successors surely have just cause to 
remember them with respect and pride. 
If the story of their humble start in the 
race and their faithful stewardship to 
the end, shall inspire us with the ambi- 
tion and will to do our part as well, then 



SCKAP-BOOK. 



85 



this story will not have been told in vain. 

Struck by the Panic 

A glance at the okl land entry books 
shows the rapid iutlux of settlers from 
1833 to 1836 or 1837. That was an 
era of speculation. Everyone had a 
mania to buy land, but the money panic 
and business crash of 1837 brought it to 
a sudden end. That was a paralytic 
stroke from which the western country 
did not entirely recover until the Cali- 
fornia gold discovery, more than a decade 
later. Wood county was especially pros- 
trateel. There was nothing here that the 
people could ^11, not even their homes; 
but there was most everything in the 
way of necessities even, to buy. There 
was in those gloomy years, little to in- 
spire hope; much to thwart and discour- 
age effort. 

The Mail Carrier 

By the middle of the year 1834 the 
ridges and higher spots within a radius 
cf three miles of this place were mostly 
patented from the government, and in 
n.'any instances the owner had built and 
occupied his cabin on his new purchase. 
This brought the population largely to 
the west and north, where the most ridges 
lay. The mail can-ier between Perrys- 
burg and Bellefontaine passed on the 
old army trail once each week, at first 
every two weeks, and this group of set- 
tlers petitioned for a postoffice in their 
midst: they were distrustful, however, 
that Collister Haskins, of Portage, might 
not approve of the move and went about 
it a little cautiously. The story of this 
enterprise incidentally reveals 

How Bowling Green Got Its Name 

The civil history of a town is but the 
biography of its founders and their suc- 
cessors, in which every incident, some- 
times the most trivial, has an interest to 
the dwellers tlierein. Not only the name 



of a town, but what or who suggested that 
name, often becomes of interest. 

Since Bowling Green has become the 
thriving seat of justice of one of the 
most prosperous counties in Ohio, inquiry 
it- often made how it happened that it 
\^•as so named. For the first time, in 
print, the story is here told, with the 
incidents that led to the naming, as told 
to the writer by two of the pioneers who 
liad a part in it at the time, and several 
others personally known to all the cir- 
cumstances. Bowling Green was chris- 
tened after, or for the capital town of 
Warren county, Kentucky, by Joseph 
Crordon, a veteran mail carrier of the 
pioneer days here. Of one who perform- 
ed so important a part for us in our in- 
fantile state, we naturally ask. Who was 
he? In his paper, the Findlay Courier, 
January 1847, William Mungen wrote 
editorially of Gordon as follows: 

Who Gordon Was 

"Joseph Gordon was born in Allegheny 
county, Pennsylvania, on the 29th day 
of January, 1784. In the year 1801, 
when but 17 years old, he commenced 
carrying the mail, on horseback, from 
Ifussellville, Kentucky, via Bowling 
Green, to Glasgow, a distance of 85 miles, 
once in two weeks, for which he received 
$12 per month. In 1802 he took a con- 
tract to carry the mail from Shelby ville, 
Kentucky, to Nashville, Tennessee. In 
consequence of the route being changed, 
lie carried the mail only two months. 
From that time till October, 1804, he 
carried it from Shelbyville to Kussellville, 
Ky. In October, 1804, he commenced 
carrying the mail on liorse-back from 
AVheeling, Virginia, to George Bey- 
mer's in Oiiio, a distance of 50 miles, 
with a led horse and a heavy mail on 
cneh. In 1805-6, he carried the mail 
from Wheeling, through St. Clairsville, 
Zanesville, and New Lancaster, to Chilli- 
cothe. In February, 1823, he commenc- 
ed on the route between Bellefontaine 



86 



THE rioXEEK 



and Perrvsbin-g', a (listaiiee of 81 miles, 
tlirough a wilderness, there Ix^ing but 
one family residing in Hardin county, 
and hut one postoitiee on tlie rout*-', and 
that (Eindlay) at tliis [)lae:'. Mr. (ior- 
don was the only contractor on this route 
from February 7, lH2o, to December 31, 
1839. Since 1839, he has carried the 
mail SL'mi-weekly from Bellefontaine to 
this place, 55 miles." 

Few indeed liavc constitntions suffi- 
ci^'iitly stroiig to ( inhii'e snch labor for 
such a length of time. It is to such men 
a.- Gordon — to oiii' hardy pioneers, who 
\\ere r;'ady to t'licounter all kinds of toil 
ajid ])ri\ati()n. that Ohio owes her pres- 
ent slat ' of |)rosperity and advancement. 
For such men we c^annot but cherish sen- 
t'lnents of respect. 

The Postoffice 

Jacob Stouifer's . cabin here was the 
central ])oint of the new postoffice move- 
ment. Heni-y Walker, son-in-law of 
Stoufi'ei- was to be th? i)ostmaster. The 
A\alkers and Stouffers occn])ied the same 
cai)in : it stood on the high ridg,' just 
east of Main street. ikiI far north of 
-\lerry avenue. 

Uordon on one of his northward trips 
had stopped at Stou Iter's as was his usual 
custom, in passing; the petition for the 
new office was ready, except that the 
movei's, two or three of whom were pres- 
ent, had not yet agreed upon a name. 
1 he old mail carrier wlio stood on the 
cabin stei)s listening to the discussion, 
said to Stoutfer, half jestingly, "if you 
v.ill give nu' a tund)ler of cider EH give 
you just the name." 

Drank to Bowling Green 

^ Stoutfer who had brought out a keg 
of cider from Columbiana county, filled 
a glass and handcMJ it to Gordon : the 
latter briefiy'<'X])laining how a])])ropriate 
the name he would suggest was to the 
landsca])e about them, said with a swc^p 
of his aim, "Here's to the new postoffice 



of liowling (ireen," swallowed the cider 
and was in the act of mounting his horse 
when those present detained him a mo- 
ment while they could write a name in 
the ])etiti(Mi. which, sure enough, was the 
one (Joi'don had suggested. 

Till' papei's were soon folded and on 
th(ir way to Perryshurg for some addi- 
tional endorseni'.nts, after which thev 
vere sent to Washington. The office was 
established March 13, 1834. In 1835, 
\\'hen Walker sold his place, he and the 
Stouifers moved over to the west side of 
Main street, where the office was kept for 
a time, since which it has had many dif- 
ferent locations and masters. 

Afterwards in 1855, when the village 
\\as incorporated, there seemed no good 
reason why it should not take the same 
name as the jiostoffice, under which name 
it had been going in fact since in the 
early fifties. That is the way Bowling 
Green came to have its name. 

White Ha I Tavern 

Aside fi'oni school and church work 
Bowling Green had but little history 
prior to the time she was inc(n-])orated, 
that does not ]n-operly come within the 
purview of the histories of Plain -and 
Center io\vnslii])s. K'obert ]\Iackey's store 
enterprise at the .\a])oleon road in the 
south part of town, intended as the 
nucleus of the village of Mt. Ararat, 
never, mider its various proprietors, met 
expectations. John Hannon in the north 
end of the strc't, with his tavern and 
blacksmith sho]) did not attract village 
neighl)ors about him. When, in 1847, 
Dr. E. I). IN'ck sent L. C. Locke out here 
to start a mercantile enterprise, most of 
the settlers were sure it would be a fail- 
ure ; the ])i'oi)rietors did not feel san- 
guine for th" stock was opened on a very 
small scale in a little room in one corner 
of a tavern called then White Hall, on 
the west side of Main just north of the 
intersection of Lil^erty street, where a 
hotel calh'd the American House has 



SriJAP-BOOK. 



87 



since stood. A man named Gossett kept 
ll,(- hotel then. 

Locke's Store 

Locke soon i'elt encouraged to call on 
his })artner for larger (juarter^ : then was 
Mt. Ararat's chance for resurrection; 
Locke tried to huy out Emerson, Eaton 
& Co., who were sort of successors to 
Mackey, though in a newer, hetter build- 
ing and on the east side of ^lain street. 
'J he owners declined to sell and the star 
of ]\lt. Ararat sank to rise no more. 
Locke hought an acre of Alfred Thurstin, 
including that part of the east side of 
^iain street from the First Xational 
Bank south, and taking in the opera 
liouse, and there huilt a store and resi- 
denee under ont> roof: his traide was pros- 
])erons. and not h)ng after he was ap- 
pointed postmaster antl a little later built 
and operated an asherv, the first manu- 
facturing enterprise begun in the village, 
if we exce])t Caleb Lord's cabinet shop. 
Locke had l)y his enterprise practically 
determined where the center of the vil- 
lage would l)e. Anyone who came in af- 
ter that, and wanted to go into business, 
located as near Locke's as he could get. 

A New Era Opened 

The advent of a second railroad here 



opens a new chaj)ter — a new era in the 
history of Bowling (ireen. This circum- 
stance is of greater import to the town 
than the first casual thought would sug- 
gest. Xot in the sense that we expect the 
town to be a center of vast population or 
a great commercial or manufacturing 
center. Its development in these respects 
rests largely with those who now rule its 
destiny^their enteri)rise, and)ition and 
far-sightedness. 

The railroad from nortli to sonth. a 
distance of 30 miles through a rich and 
largely unoccupied portion of the coun- 
ty, will not only develop a vastly increas- 
ed trade and make hetter market facili- 
ties for the town, hut settle forever its 
status as the husincss center — capital, of 
one of the iai'gest and most ])ros]i)erous 
agricultui'al countii's in Ohio. As san- 
guine as many of our ])eople felt on this 
point, it was not settled beyond cavil un- 
til this road caiui>. Tliis settles it and 
the town now stands on solid footing in 
this respect. It is the ca])ital of a grand 
and ])opulons county. It is tlic official 
l\isiness center and is natui'ally the trad- 
ing' center. 



A number of htls were sohl a! pnhlie 
auction in I'errvshuri;-, in 182."5. 



THE BELL SCHOOL HOUSE 



Purpose for Which It Was Biilt Much In- 
terest Attached to It Wheraabouts of 
the Bell Discovered 



THE Bell school house was built in 
1841, says Joseph R. Tracy, on Sec- 
tion 2(i, Plain township, by John White- 
head, John E. Jenkins, carpenters, and 
Joseph IL Tracy and other residents as- 
sisting. The money was contributed by 
the leading citizens of the township, who 



desired to have a house fiu' a private 
school, as well as for religious purposes. 
The bell, from which the house took its 
name, was fonnerly used on the Mission 
C'liapel on the Maumee river. It was 
presented to tlii' l)uilders of the school 
house and placed in a cupola erected for 
the purpose. A subscription school was 
carried on for a number of years, after 
which the house passed into the posses- 
sion of the common school trustees. 

Some time in 1857, the house was de- 
stroyed by fire, and another building was 
eivcted for the same purposes about a 



THE PIOXEER 



mile to the west. The Methodist class 
that used to meet there was merged into 
the church at Bowling Green. The 
same is true of the Baptist and Congrega- 
tional adherents. Each became the 
members of larger churches. Thus the 
particular necessity of this school build- 
iJig ceased. 

The bell has been the subject of much 
theorizing as to what became of it. As 
far as can be learned, it being the prop- 
erty of Isaac Van Tassel, he took pos- 
session of it and removed it. Mr. J. R. 
Judson says it was removed in 1845 on 
the plea that the belfry was not safe. 
He says he does not know who had charge 
of it the next 10 or 12 years, but he is 
pretty certain that it was placed in the 
Minton school house in the late 50's. 
Newton Stearns says it is on the Minton 
school house and has not been changed. 
He says he bought the bell for $2 and 
sold it for $3 to Nate Minton. T. W. 
Miuton, writing under date of February 
1. 1909, says, "In 1870, a new school 
house was built on his father's farm in 
Plain township, five miles west of Bowl- 
ing Green — that his father learned where 
the old mission bell was and went and 



bought it for something like $3.00 from 
a party west of Bowling Green, and if I 
remember correctly he presented it to the 
district by placing it on top of the school 
building and it is there today if it has 
not been taken down.'' 

Mr. C. W. Evers once doubted whether 
the old Mission bell and that on the 
Minton school house was the same. But 
after more thorough investigation and 
the stati'nients of those upon whom he 
could rely he was less skeptical and ad- 
mitted till' probability that they were the 
same. Mr. Evers attended school in the 
old Bell school house in 1846-7, and had 
many tender associations in all that per- 
tained to it. In writing of the bell he 
says : "Its silvery peals swelled up from 
that little forest-hidden chapel over for- 
est and glade, and bore the glad tidings 
to the scattered settlers, far and near, 
that some one would preach, some one 
would sing, and some one would pray 
that day at the 'Bell'. That bell was 
the pioneer evangelist of this kind in 
Wood county, or for that matter in 
jSTorthwestem Ohio. It came Anth the 
\'anguard of Civilization." 



LAST OF BIG GAME 



The Last Bear That Was Killed Within the 
Limits of Wood County 



IN the Sentinel of November 27, 1884, 
Mr. Evers gives substantially the 
story, as told by Wm. Mears and J. G. 
Balston, of the killing of the last bear 
ever slain in Wood county: 

It was late in the fall of 1858; there 
was a nice tracking snow on the ground. 
Wash. G. Avery, who then lived on his 
farm north of town, was out hunting; 



had wounded a deer and was following 
in its track when, about three o'clock in 
the afternoon he came across a big brown 
bear poking along in the woods. Mr. 
Avery thought no more about his deer, 
but immediately turned his attention to 
the "bigger game." His gun was a small 
one, and not just the thing to tackle a 
bear with, but Wash did not stop to think 
of that, but pulled up and blazed away. 
The ball struck the bear in the thigh, 
inflicting a flesh wound of no conse- 
quence, and bruin set off in an easterly 
direction. Wash went over to Joe Eal- 
ston's on Sugar Ridge, and got Joe and 



-SCKAP-BOOK. 



89 



Geo. Walker, who were there visiting, and 
the three set out in pursuit. They fol- 
Icwed the trail as far as the McCutehen- 
ville road over in Wi'bster, and then, it 
being late in the night and all hands be- 
ing tired, they went to the Ten Mile 
house and stayed until morning. At 
daylight they were again on the trail, 
the crowd re-enforced by the addition of 
Jesse Williams, a harness maker from 
Pcrrysburg, and a friend of his. They 
followed the trail to the Ottawa county 
line, where they found that the bear had 
taken the back track, crossing the Mc- 
Ciitchenville road within a mile or so of 
■where they had started in the niorning. 
As they crossed the road, they found that 
some one else, with a dog had taken the 

Jesse Williams said it was old Jake 
Hedinger, an old hunter who lived in 
the vicinity; said he knew his track. 
Away they all started on the dead run, 
whooping and halloing to Hedinger to 
stop and wait for them, but he did not 
stop. They finally heard the dogs and 
taking a short cut came up with Heding- 
er. They found where the bear had at- 
tempted to climb two different cotton- 
vv'ood trees, Ijut had been pulled down by 
Hedinger's big dog, and had been obliged 
to continue his flight by the near ap- 
proach of the nu^n. He fiiuilly came out 
and crossed the i)lank ro;id at tlie inter- 
section of Center and Middleton township 
lines. When the men came out on the 
plank road Williams and his friend fol- 
lowed the trail after the dogs, and Ral- 
ston went down the plank road to watch 
AAhat was then called the Eudolph road. 

Wm. Avery, AVm. Mears, and Benj. 
Johnson had been hunting that day in 
east of the John Hood place, north of the 
bend. Mr. Mears had killed a turkey 
gobbler that weighed r>r, lbs., and they 
were returning homeward. Mr. Johnson 
had left them and gone home, and the 
others met Jot^ just as he turned off from 
the plank road, and an explanation en- 



sued, M'hen Mears and Wm. Avery agreed 
to join the bear hunt. They agreed that 
the bear which had gone away in west 
of the road would attempt to get back 
to the Devil's Hole, and that they had bet- 
ter station themselves along what was 
known as the Rudolph ditch. Ralston, 
Mears and Wm. Avery accordingly went 
over on the ditch. Joe Ralston took up 
liis station on the ditch-bank, while Wm. 
Avery stood about 15 rods east of Joe, 
and Mears about the same distance east 
0'' Avery. As it began to get dusk they 
lieard the dogs coming, yelping at every 
jump. Pretty soon bruin came in sight 
of Joe, lumbering along to within a few 
3^ards of him, with back bowed up, mouth 
open and tongue hanging out, looking 
tired and savage. Joe pulled up his 
gun — and it snapped. Tried it again, 
but it was no good-. By this time the 
bear had passed on to Mr. Avery, who, 
owing to the gathering darkness could 
not see to shoot very good. He fired, 
however, striking the bear in the back, 
hut not inflicting a serious wound. Now 
came Mr. Mears' turn. He waited until 
the bear was within a few fet't of him, 
and had just cleared a 14-foot ditch at 
a bound, when he put a half-onnce l)all 
through his heart. Bruin fell, apparent- 
ly dead, and the dogs coming u]) at that 
instant, sailed in, and then immediately 
sailed out again, for, with his last 
strength, the bear strack one of them a 
terrible blow with his paw, knocking him 
about 20 feet away, whereupon the two 
dogs set off through the woods, howling 
as if "the old Nick" was after them. 

When they found that the Ijear was 
dead, jMears, Avery and Ralston set up a 
shout of triumph which soon brought 
Wash., Williams and Hedinger to the 
scene. After a consultation it was de- 
cided to take the bear up to Thomas' 
tavern and there divitle up. They ac- 
cordingly dragged the carcass through 
the snow to the place of destination. 

Arriving at the tavern, tliose who felt 



!)() 



'IMIK IMOXHKPi 



tlis])()si'(l to do so ci.'lrlii'aTcd tlii' occasion tii'cd and worn oul. hut well pleased with 

bv indiilgiii^ii' in a little taiiiile-fool. aftei' the day's adventure. 

which they divided, the bear, which This is the story of the last "big game"' 

weighed about 250 potmds. Wash, took ever brought down, or wliich probably 

the hide, and the meat was divided among ever will be brought (h)wii in Wood 

the others, after wliicji all went home. county. 



TURKEY FOOT ROCK 



A Boulder Monument Commemorative of 
Wayne's Great Victory 



T 11 111 large boulder called "Turkey Fool 
Kock"" which lays on the north bank 
of the Mauniee denotes the point ou the 
river where Gen. Wayne gained a decisive 
\ictory over the combined Indian tribes 
of the Xorthwest, on August 20, 1794. 
The Indians were principally directed and 
commanded by Bhie Jacket and Little 
Turtle, and the tribes engaged included 
the vShawanese, Miamis, Wyandotts, Pot- 
tawattomies, Delawares, Chippewas, Otta- 
was and a few Senecas and other rem- 
nants of tribes. The Wyamlotts, a once 
powerful tribe lost all their chiefs, nine 
in number, at that battle, and tradition 
says that one of the bravest of their clan, 
called '"I'urkey Foot,'' was slain by 
Wayne's infuriated followers near this 
rock and tluit after Wayne, whom the 
Indians called the "Whirlwind'" was 
gone, the fvw scattering members of the 
Wyandott nation re])aired to the s])ot 
where their beloved chief had fallen and 
carved the rejjreseiitation of a huge 
turkey's foot on the rough boulder with 
their hatciiets. This roughly chiseled 
turkey's foot is still to be seen, although 
the rock has been sadly defaced by 
sacrilegious and disrespectful hands. 

The armies of Harmer and St. Clair 
had been liutcliered and destroyed, and 
the savages, encouraged by the British 
agents, were exultant and blood thirstv. 



Kut <u) awnging Xeuu'sis was after them 
at last. The highest tribute paid to 
Wayne's generalsbi]». was by Little Turtle 
in a council speech the' Jiight previous to 
the l)attle, which he was not in favor of. 
Said he, "the Americans are now led by 
a chief who never sleeps. The night and 
the da\' are alike to him. During all the 
time he has bi'cn marching on our vil- 
lages we lia\c been unable to surprise 
him. lliink well of it."" But the i-oun- 
sel of Blue lacket who was more Ijloody 
and precipitate i)re\ailed. I'he Indians 
were overpowered, out generaled. driven 
into the river and almost annihilated, 
and the glad tidings wer>' berabl'd across 
tlu' Alleghanies in shouts of triumph. 
I'hat boulder is a mute reminder oi' the 
battle of Fallen Timber. 

A Piece of Fiction 

In a communicatio]! to the Sentinel, 
the late C. W. Fvers thus disposed of the 
prevalent theory tliat Turkey Foot was 
an Indian chief: 

I notice in your daily of June 15 that 
Dr. Dwight Canfield in his review of 
the battle of Fallen Timber has fallen 
into the usual mistake of people who 
wilte about Turkey Foot rock. There is 
such a ixK-k as we all know, but that there 
was a "noted Indian chief" named Turkey 
Foot, as lie stated and as many others 
have done, 1 deny. I know I am going 
in the face of a long standing legend — 
breaking an idol as it were; but it is 
best, that we get our history of the long 
ago correct before it is too late. 

If any one interested, will take the 
trouble to consult a book writt-Mi per- 




TURKEY FOOT ROCK 

At the Presque Isle Hill, Where It Marks the Site of the Battle of Fallen Timber 



SCKAP-BOOK. 



93 



haps some time in 1830 or possibly earl- 
ier when the Indians were still here, by 
T. M. Coffinberry, called the Forest 
Eangers, foot note, page — (I have not 
the book before me, though several of 
them are owned in Toledo) they will get 
the facts, regarding Turkey Foot rock. 
Mr. Coffinberry was a lawyer, lived at 
Perry sburg, was well educated and ming- 
led, out of curiosity perhaps, much with 
the Indians, and knew their habits, cus- 
toms and history quite well. 

According to his statement, I give the 
substance rather than his words, the In- 
dian killed, at or near the big boulder, 
August 20, 1794, was a sub-chief of the 
turkey clan of the Wyandott tribe, whose 
totem or coat of arms or monogram was 
the imprint of a turkey's foot. Each 
tribe is divided into more or less clans; 
the beaver, the muskrat, the eagle, the 
dog, the bear, or any favorite object may 
be adopted as the emblem of a clan. A 
turkey in Wyandott is Massas. 

This warrior, killed that day was evi- 
dently popular and beloved of his clan 
for they not only carved the emblem of 
the clan, a turkey's footprint on the big 
granite boulder, but always, when pass- 
ing that way, some of his kin or clan 
would stop and leave some little tribute 
of their affection, oftener plug tobacco 
than anything else. 



Thus it was the stone took the name 
Turkey Foot rock. There was no noted 
chief of that name.' Xo treaty record 
with the Indians bears such a name, ^o 
such name is mentioned in the many 
fights before Wayne's battle. If he had 
been a noted warrior, some where his 
name would appear. It is just a fiction 
of some of the white men of the later 
years and witb some has grown into an 
honest belief as is the case with many 
other fictions we cling to as truths. 

There is a turkey foot rock. It is 
a land mark denoting the high tide spot 
of Wayne's battle. Near it a brave of 
the turkey clan was killed. He was pop- 
ular and his clansmen cut the clan em- 
blem, the print of a turkey's foot, on the 
stone and very naturally it has gone by 
the name Turkey Foot rock. Its chief 
importance, however, is that it marks the 
place of one of tbo great battles of the 
border war period. 

Until recently it was the only battle 
ground in this part of the Maumee valley 
that had a marker of any sort. 

The old rock should be cared for and 
preserved and above all when we take 
our school history pupils to these historic 
places we should give them the history 
straight — unmixed with any fiction or 
carelessly drawn conclusions formed 
without due investigation. 



UNBROKEN FORESTS 



Black Snakes, Rattlers, Wolves and Other 
Pests That Annoyed Early Settlers 



AN old pioneer of Perry township, in 
writing to the Sentinel, says that 
prior to the year 1830, the southern part 
of Wood county as far as known was 
without a living white settler. Its for- 
ests of oak, walnut, beech and poplar 



were primeval in beauty, and teemed with 
bears, wolves, deer and other animals, 
while countless multitudes of wild geese 
and ducks quacked in the tangled un- 
dergrowth along the various branches of 
the Portage. 

About the year 1830 solitaiy hunters 
would come in occasionally and chase a 
bear or herd of deer, but for the most 
part it remained an unbroken wilderness, 
and although speculators and those con- 
templating actual settlement had entered 
lands, they were laughed at for their 



i)4 



THE PIONEER 



credulity if the}' asserted it would ever 
be a habitable region. The "Munchau- 
sen'' stories of the Black Swamp repre- 
sented it as being occupied by a species 
of genii closely allied to mother Eve's 
joersuader. Black snakes were said to at- 
tain constrictor proportions, while the 
dread rattler was sup])()se(l to hiss forked 
lightning from every stump and crevice. 
Gradually, however, these stories became 
'"old,'' and some adventurous spirits be- 
gan to talk seriously of making a "clear- 
ing." 

The cholera which made its first ap- 
pearance in the Fnited States in 1831, 
spread north with gi-eat rapidity and dire 
effects. At the old town of Gallipolis 
on the Ohio, its ad\'ent was felt and sent 
many northward, who preferred any hard- 
ship to a tussle with tlic^ dread malady. 

Named Millgrove 

In the election of '34: the number of 
voters had increased to twenty-eight, and 
during the fall aud winter the settlement 
at tlu' ^reOonuick entry was sufficiently 
large to warrant James McCormick in 
sur^'eying a piece of his land and laying 
it out in lots. He secured the services of 
Davis, and lots wore laid on the Mc- 
Cutchenville road, aud the road to Fre- 
mont and the streets named Main and 
Sandusky. Since that time several addi- 
tions have been made and new streets laid 



out. McCormick named the town Mill 
Orove, to wliich has been suffixed West 
to distinguish it from Mill Grove in 
jMorgan county. The sale of lots was 
slow and ))uihling slower. 

The Wolves 

One of the greatest pests to the raising 
of any kind of stock were wolves, the 
forests seemed literally alive with them, 
and in the winter they were ravenous, 
attacking every li\'ing animal from a 
chicken to even the settler himself. 
Gradually, however, they disappeared, 
drew deeper into the forest, and it has 
been many years since the wolf lost his 
identity in the county. Settlers used 
different modes to protect their stock 
from them, the steel trap and chain be- 
ing veiy effective. jMany daring exploits 
are related of the old hunters then young 
men, chuck full of grit. One is worth 
relating. 

George McCormick at tliat time a mere 
boy, went out one morning to see liis 
tra]), and found a very large wolf fast 
luit nidiurt. Now as there were some 
new settlers just come in, George deter- 
mined they should have a close view of 
a live wolf. After considerable planning 
he succeeded in tying the wolf's 
mouth and feet. He then very coollv 
strapped liim on his back and walked 
home, a distance of OATr a mile. 



THE HOLLINGTONS 



Like Other Early Settlers They Shared in the 
Sufferings of Pioneer Life 



AMOXG the list (.f early settlers of 
Plain townslii}), may be mentioned 
Picliard Hollington, who came out 
to tile ^laumee conntiT in the year 
1834. hy tlie lake, and almost directly 
from Enudand. ilc cntei'cd 4(10 acres of 



land, endtraeing what is now a fine farm 
south of Bowling Green. j\Ir. Holling- 
ton selected a spot al)out one-fourth of a 
mile west of the Findlay road as his 
future abiding place, and in course of 
time had a fine orchard of apple trees 
|)lan1e(l from the old Station orchard on 
the Maumee. 

After contracting with a man named 
McKnight. for the ))uilding of a log 
house, and hnying two yoke of oxen (the 
first e\'er owned in the township) he re- 



SCHAr-BOOK. 



9o 



turned to Buffalo for his family, wlioni 
lie had preceded in search of a home. 

He had a wife and. five children, fonr 
sous and one danghter. l\ichard, tlie 
eldest son. then 13 years of age, became 
a resident of Williams county, this 
State. Mary became the wife of Hon. 
(>cta\ius Waters, of Fulton county, 
.lost'ph was a resident of Bowling (ii'een. 
William, the youngest of the family, be- 
came a resident oF Missouri. 

Ambrose, next to the youngest, will be 
remendiered Ijy many ol' the ])resent day 
throughout this section of Ohio, as Kev. 
Ambrose Hollington, who was classed 
among the most eloquent of ])ulpit ora- 
tors. His son. Dr. H. I). Hollington, of 
St. Paul's M. E. church. Toledo, is des- 
tined to l)ecome as famed as his father. 

Privation and Inexperience 

In dui' time the llollingtons ai'rived 
at tlu' (h>ck in I'ei-rysburg. where the 
rough side of life's reality in the Black 
Swamp, set in. 

Mr. Hollington had in the old country 
been a tradesman, while his wife, who 
was a wi'll educated woman, had bt'i'u ac- 
customed to all the comfoi-ts and con- 
venieut-es of lib'. But lirf piano had 
been Irft across the ocean, and lln' only 
music she would be likely to hear fin- 
many long months would Ije a medley of 
uncouth sounds of frogs, mosquitoes, ^ild 
beasts ;ind birds. Hollington knew noth- 
ing of woodcraft, did not know how to rise 
an ax. in fact with his wife, he was enter- 
ing upon an undertaking remU'red doidily 
trying because' of their int'xperience. 

After a toilsome journey tbi'ough 
>wanip> and forests, they ilnally arrived 
at tlie cabin of -Joseph Mitchell, who 
bad settled a short time ])revious near 
the south boundary of the township, and 
about two miles north of (*ass' Corners, 
in TjilnTty townshi]). The ]\[itchells had 
barely got their cabin coverech A ])lace 
for a door and small window had been 
cut out. l)ut lumber for a door oi' glass 



for windows wvw practically out of tlie 
([Uestion then, nor bad the cabin even a 
puncheon tioor, but such as they had the 
early settlers shared freely with each 
other, or with the stranger who came 
among them. 

It was hei'e in mid-winter, al'ler the 
last weary day of their long journey was 
done, that the Hollingtons l)egan fully 
to take in the situation. They had 
reached the goal of their ambition, free 
America, where every mait is a law unto 
himself, no kingly power, no lU'cks galled 
with the yoke of oppivssion. no t'X- 
cisemen, a land of plenty and unmixed 
happiness. But alas, how different the 
pictun^ of fancy and the homely reality. 

A Triumph Through Tears 

Mrs. Hollington, of ail the souls gath- 
ered there, was the most disheartened 
and most keeidy realized their discon- 
sobii'.' situation. ()\t'iconK' at hist by 
her feelings, she sank down on one of 
the floor sleepers and burst out crying. 
But her grief was not the grief of de- 
spair. It was a transition in her life 
pilgrimage. This evanescent storm of 
tears s^'cms to ba\;' washed awav all 
the weakt'r elemenls of lu'r wonumly na- 
ture, and instead of the d.'pendent. timid 
woman, she becanu' llie strong arm, the 
jiillar <d' strength in that household: 
when liei' busband gi'cw despondent, she 
spoke words of enc(niragement to him. 
With each new and tiwing vicissitude, 
!i r (onrag' aios'. No trial seemed too 
gi-eat foi' liei- foi-tilude. She seemed sud- 
denly to lia\c been imbued with that 
strength of cbai'acter and tenacity of i)ur- 
pose wliicli can surmount e\cry dilticulty. 
and wbieli in all ages of the woi'ld ha- 
made men lieroes. 

Tlu' family remained at Mitchell's 
about six weeks, ami theii- own house still 
being incompleted, they moved with what 
\\'\v articles tluw had. to the cabin of Lee 
Moore, just in tlie south edge of the pres- 
ent town of Txiwlinu- (irei'u. — ('. IT. A'. 



90 



THE PIOXEER 



INDIAN ASSOCIATES 



In MUton Township — Hardships of Settlers 
Expert Hunter— Coon Pot Pie — 
Rev. Joseph Badger 



IX the Seutiuel of Xovember 29, 1883, 
Mr. Evers says that James Hutch- 
inson, sr., and family, and sons Andrew 
and James and families, who came from 
Summit county, Ohio, in April, 1834, 
were the first settlers within the borders 
of what is now known as Milton town- 
ship. The family of Mr. Hutchinson, 
besides his wife and two married sons, 
consisted of three daughters. Andrew 
and wife had twelve children. In James 
Hutchinson, jr"s, family were only him- 
self and wife. 

These families found Milton to be an 
unbroken forest, the home of the red man 
and the abiding place of the deer, wolf 
and bear. Not a tree had been cut in 
the township, unless by hunters, and 
ever3"thing was in a state of nature. 
They came with five yoke of oxen and 
one span of horses, making their journey 
from Summit county in ten days; they 
took what is now the Maumee and West- 
ern Reserve road to Perrysburg, then al- 
most bottomless with mud, thirty miles 
in length and supplied with a tavern to 
every mile, and one to spare. At times 
on their journey the wagons would get 
stuck, compelling them to put all five 
yoke of oxen to one wagon to pull it 
out. From Perrysburg they traveled most 
of the way over what was known as 
"HulFs Trace" to Lee Moore's place, in 
the south part of Bowling Green. From 
there Mr. Moore piloted them by the 
way of the sand ridge to their future 
home, and for many a mile they were 
obliged to cut their way through the 
woods, step by step. 

The three men with the help of the 
women, on their arrival, immediately set 



to work to build a cabin, which they 
completed in forty-eight hours ready for 
occupancy, and in which they slept on 
the second night spent on the premises. 
This cabin, the first in the township, 
stood on the farm entered by Mr. Hutch- 
inson, sr. 

Indian Associates . 

After getting a good start on this farm 
each of the sons entered a piece of land 
and built a cabin for himself. The only 
associates of these families until the next 
settlers moved in, were the Indians, who 
of course, were very numerous. The In- 
dians had a camp for years on the place 
owned later by Morris Brown and by H. || 
C. Strow, and after being disturbed 
there, camped for a long time on the east 
side of the Van Tassel farm. 

The settlers* children and Indian pap- 
pooses would play together day after day 
just as neighbors' children do now. The 
Indians learned the sports of the whites 
and vice versa. The Indians lived most- 
ly on hominy and wild game, such as 
\enison, coon, wood-chuck, 'possum, 
musk-rat, etc. Andrew Hutchinson states 
that he had often when visiting their 
camps, seen large copper kettles (which 
they obtained from the government) con- 
taining perhaps eight or ten fat coon 
each, mixed with hominy and water, 
swung over a fire and boiling like a 
young volcano. The coon would be skin- 
ned and quartered, then thrown in the 
kettle head, feet, claws and all. Mr. 
Hutchinson relates that his brother 
James went back to Summit county and 
married a rather fashionable young lady 
who came out to the Wood county wilder- 
ness to share the trials of the pioneer 
life with her husband. About the first 
Sunday she was there they went to visit 
their neighbors — red neighbors, and of 
course were invited to stay to dinner. 
The young Summit county bride took a 
look into one of the kettles and got a 
full sniff of the steaming coon pot-pie 



SC'KAF-BOOK. 



97 



which so sickened her that she had to 
be taken off home which amused the In- 
dians very much. 

Expert Hunter 

Mr. Andrew Hutchiusou, who, with 
his father and brother were, as before 
stated, the tirst settlers of the township, 
is yet living (1883) at Milton Center, 
and though 74 ye'irs 'i^ld, told us a few 
days since that he had cleared 12 acres of 
land the past year. Mr. Hutchinson when 
young was one of the best hunters in 
northwestern Ohio. He supplied most 
of his pioneer neighbors with tlieir meat, 
such as venison, turkeys and other wild 
game, and they in turn would work on 
his farm to pay him for hunting; 
"Change works" it was called. He was 
schooled in the art of hunting by the 
Indians, and hunted with them day after 
day. In giving him instructions about 
hunting they would say : '^' White man 
hunt deer slow, go still. AMien see deer 
watch him close. Wlien deer look up, 
white man stop, stand straight; when get 
close take good aim, fire, and down come 
deer." He evidently followed their in- 
structions well, as he said he had killed 



probably not less than 2,000 deer in his 
time. 

Rev. Joseph Badger 

Some time later Rev. Joseph Badger 
and family, moved in from near the old 
'"Missionary Station" and lived on the 
farm now owned by M. B. Todd. Fath- 
er Badger was a soldier in the Eevolution- 
ary war, chaplain in a regiment of Har- 
rison's army in the war of 1812 and he 
was also present at the siege of Fort 
Meigs, near which place his ashes now 
repose (the Perry sburg cemetery). He 
was a man of deep piety, greatly respect- 
ed by all, kind and generous, was never 
known to refuse a favor, and would ren- 
der assistance to an Indian or even a 
dog. The esteem in which he was held 
can be aptly illustrated by the follow- 
ing fact. He was on principle opposed 
to hunting on the Sabbath, as was the 
custom of many of the hardy, careless 
pioneers. But they knew Mr. Badger's 
opposition to the practice and if they 
chanced to pass near his house on a Sab- 
bath hunt they would always as a mat- 
ter of respect to his feelings, leave the 
road and go around his house in the 
woods and thus escape his observation. 



TINGE OF ROMANCE 



The Story of Horace Cady — Why the Young 

Frenchman, James Bloom, Came 

to Wood 



HORACE CADY was an eastern man 
and at one time quite wealthy. 
He lost heavily in a large speculation 
and as is always the case his position and 
the prestige of his family among the 
wealthy social circles of the east dimin- 
ished with his fortune. He chanced to 



come west with a friend and while in 
this county became favorably impressed 
with it as a refuge for his family from 
the outside world and settled here in 
1832 or '33. Leaving his family he 
started for South America with the hope 
of regaining his lost fortune. 

"While on his way to Valparaiso, he 
came across a dashing and spirited young 
Frenchman of high parentage and wealth 
who was also on a tour of speculation 
in Lima, Peru. He became much at- 
tached to the young man and after they 
had been in South America some time, 
Cadv not makinof anv advancement in 



m 



THE PIO^s^EER 



liis project and the 3'onng Frenchman 
losing heavily in his operations, they 
concluded to return to the I'nited States 
and Cady invited his friend to accompany 
him to his home in this county, which 
he did. 

The young Frenchman, with his high 
ideas and aristocratic notions was not 
favorably impressed with the country but 
what was lacking in this was made up 
by the presence at Cady's home of a fine 
looking and accomplished daughter to 
whom he soon become greatly attached 
and in a short time married and settled 
for life in Liberty. The young French- 
man was James Bloom and the daughter, 
Harriet Cad}-, became ^Irs. Harriet 
Bloom. 

Though this story may not l)e correct 
iji every particular, it in main explains 
how ]\[r. Bloom came to reside in Liber- 
ty. He was evidently never cut oul: for 
a farmer and the style of life he was 
compelled to live, in the early days here, 
failed to bring prosperity. He died 
al)0ut 1870 at an old age, and his re- 
mains now lie in the Liberty township 
cemetery. 

To tell how these first settlers toiled 
to make comfortable homes of their 
^"^farms in the wilderness" of the priva- 
tions and hardships they endured, of their 
great distance from family supplies, etc., 
Avould be simply a re])etition of what has 
been said of other localities. Two things, 
however, worihv of mention that used to 



he the greatest enemies of the early set- 
tlers were the 

Ague and Mosquitoes 

Ask any old settler of Liberty to-day 
about the mosquitoes and he will tell 
you the swamps along the Portage river 
in those days bred the best specimens of 
mosquitoes the world ever saw. They 
were of the Jumbo type, blessed with 
long lives, powerful endurance and a 
l)erseverance equaled only by the settlers 
themselves. And as the latter sat around 
their cabin homes on warm, pleasant 
evenings, their only mode of protection 
from the ravages of these little perse- 
lutors would bo to build a "smudge" and 
envelop themselves in the smoke arising 
from the same, like a ham in a smoke 
house. As a breeder of malarial com- 
plaints the Portage had an established 
reputation. As soon as the summer and 
fall months rolled past they would bring 
with them malarial fevers of the most 
dreaded type and ague in all the stages 
and forms known. Wliole families would 
he stricken doM'n at one time and many 
of them died from the dread complaint. 
Dr. Eli Manville, father of the late Dr. 
A. J. Manville, was the first doctor to 
])ractice in this community and the way 
lie fed. quinine to his patients was a cau- 
tion, but he was a blessing to the com- 
uuinity, saved many lives and is grate- 
fully remembered by his few surviving 
patients of 70 years ago. — C. W. E. 



MIAMI OF THE LAKE 



A Paper Published at Perrysburg 72 Years 

Ago Gleanings from Wood County's 

Oldest Newspaper 



WEITING to the Wood County 
Democrat, a correspondent gives 
Ihe following sketch of interest: 

Rumaging through a trunk of old time 



records recently, several copies of a 
Perrysburg newspaper came into view, 
called "Miami of the Lake." These cop- 
ies were dated in March and April of 
1837— about 72 years ago. J. H. Mc- 
Bride was the editor and publisher. 

The first page of these numbers is 
largely made up of literary matter, both 
jirose and poetry. One article by Judge 
Story is entitled, "What is to Become 
of This Cnuntrv?" He refers to the na- 



SCKAl'-BOOK. 



99 



tions of the old world — to Greece, Eonie, 
Italy, Venice, Genoa — one time republics, 
that have jjassed away. He closes in an 
impassioned appeal in the following lan- 
gnage : 

"I call npon you, fathers, by the shades 
of your ancestors, by the dear ashes 
which repose in this precious soil, by all 
you hope to be, resist every project of 
disunion, resist every attempt to fetter 
your conscience, or smother our public 
schools, or extinguish your system of 
public instruction/' 

After i^roceeding at some length in 
his appeal to the fathers, the mothers 
and the young men of America, he thus 
concludes : 

"Life can never be too short, which 
brings nothing but disgrace and oppres- 
sion. Death never comes too soon, if 
necessary, in defense of tlu' lih-rties of 
our country." 

In the number of April 5, 1837. an 
important discovery is announced — "the 
greatest since the days of Franklin." 
James P. Espy, Esq., has ascertained that 
the weather is regulated by fixed, unal- 
terable laws — easily understood, so that 
the captain of a vessel may t' 11 wlieth- 
er there is a storm raging anywhere with- 
in 500 miles of him, and how he may 
direct his course so as to avoid it. 

The proceedings of the Ohio legisla- 
tors in ])oth the senate and house of re- 
presentatives are given at considerable 
length, occupying nearly a page. The 
paper is a four page folio, with six 
columns to a page. 

At the head of the editorial columns 
delinquent subscribers are stirred up — 
money is needed, "badly needed." The 
panic of 1S37 was then spreading over 
the country, and "the money market at 
New York was hourly becoming more 
alarming." 

Hon. John Hollister was the represent- 
ative of' this district, and the district em- 
braced nine northern counties, in which 
was included some of the most import- 



ant works of internal improvement in 
the state. In speaking of Hollister, the 
editor says: "There has been a straight 
forward and honorable course adopted 
and pursued by the representative from 
this district, in all matters of legisla- 
tion, which has received the approbation 
of political enemies as well as political 
friends." 

Jn another editorial the condition of 
the Western Reserve Road is scored in 
the severest language. Says the editor, 
"It is only those who have become stalled 
in the mud, in endeavoring to Avork 
their way through this Ohio Golgotha, 
that can draw a true picture of this 
stigma upon the character of the state." 
Again he says: "Teams are not unfre- 
(juently five days in passing through this 
section of the road of thirtv-one miles 
in extent!" 

From an editorial on the money ])anic 
may be found the following: 

"One firm in New York alone has paid 
the enormous sum of $30,000, usury 
money the past 3'ear." 

"The most wealthy and prudent firms 
;irc disheartened and ready to yi(dd to 
the pressure of the times." 

"Tlie rich men are now made ])oor, 
in<l the poor made beggars." 

"Every man in the country is now 
rnnde to suffer excej)! the broker and 
■xtortioner." 

"Every day matters grow worse, and 
as the exchanges are still becoming more 
<leranged, thick gloom and darkness rests 
u])on the future." 

Petitions from many points were pre- 
sented to the Ohio Legislature for the 
construction of the Wabash and Erie 
canal on the southeast side of the 
Mauniee I'ivei- from Defiance to the lake, 
which location was never realized. 

In markets fresh beef and pork quoted 
at 8 to 13c: butter 20 to 25c: eggs, 12 
to loc: flour, per bbl., $11.50. 

In the Perrysburg marine list arrivals 
of vessels from ^March 30 to April 4, 



100 



THE PIONEER 



were steamboats General Jackson and 
Oliver Newberry from Detroit, with pas- 
sengers; steamboat Cincinnati from 
Cleveland, with passengers; also schoon- 
er Delphos from Cleveland with pork, 
flour and merchandise. 

During the same time the departures 
were steamboats General Jackson and 
Cincinnati for Detroit, with passengers; 
steamboat Oliver Newberry, for Cleve- 
land and Erie, with passengers, and the 
schooner Caroline, for Cleveland. 

A. Hills, postmaster advertises nearly 
200 letters remaining in office April 1, 
1837. 

The fourth page is mostly devoted to 
advertisements. 

J. Chappel, sheriff, advertises a num- 
ber of sales. 

Some ten or twelve legal notices are 
scattered through the paper. 

Independent voters are notified that 
John C. Smith is a candidate for Mayor. 

Among the merchants advertising 
their goods, Woodruff & Spafford, Bus- 
sell & Brigham, Beach & Bennett, J. 
Hollister & Co., Doan & Earl, Oren 
Clark and Spink & Smith. 

Jones & Tucker and Earl Brothers 
advertise their stores at Waterville. 

Forwarding and Commission mer- 
chants of Maumee and Perrysburg, com- 
prise the following firms: John Hollis- 
ter & Co., and Doan & Earl, of Perrys- 
burg; J. J. Bingham, Forsyth & Hazard, 
Cook and Kirtland and J. A. Scott, of 
Maumee. These firms publish their 
prices at length for storage, wharfage 
and commissions. 

D. Wilkison, Master, advertises that 
the steamer Commodore Perry will leave 
Buffalo every Monday evening for De- 
troit and Perrysburg. Will leave De- 
troit every Thursday morning and Perrys- 
burg every Thursday afternoon for Buf- 
falo. 

Charles Stoner offers six cents reward 
for a runaway apprentice. 

Leander Eansom, acting commissioner 



of the Board of Public Works advertises 
that '^sealed proposals will be received at 
the town of Maumee in Lucas county, 
Ohio, on the 15th day of May, 1837, for 
the construction of so much of the line 
of the Wabash and Erie Canal, as lies 
between the head of the Eapids of the 
Maumee River and the eastern termina- 
tion of said Canal near the town of Man- 
hattan, at the head of the Maumee 
Bay." 

Several advertisements appear from 
Detroit, Erie, Pa., and other places. 

The following are the legal firms whose 
cards appear under the head of "Law' 
Advertisements." 

Henry Reed, jr., Horace Sessions,] 
Henry Bennett, H. C. Stowel & J. D. 
Brown, J. C. Spink & A. C. Coffinbury, 
Isaac Stetson and Mason Brayman, the 
latter located in Buffalo. 

There are many points of interest em- 
braced in this relic of two generations 
ago, and not desiring to prove tedious 
with further detail, the foregoing is 
probably sufficient to indicate the activi- 
ties of the first settlers and business men 
at Perrysburg and along the Maumee 
river. — F. J. 0. 



Some geologists are of the opinion that 
Lake Erie, at one time, extended west- 
ward as far as the source of the Mau- 
mee, citing as evidence the existence of 
various "moraines" yet plainly visible in 
that vicinity. 

The first school house in the east part 
of Middleton township was a small log 
building built by joint contributions of 
the settlers on Section 24, in 1844, and 
Mrs. Amelius Robertson, who was then 
Margery Frazier, just from Glasgow, 
Scotland, was the first teacher. It was 
also for some years used as the first 
church for that community, until a so-|j 
ciety was organized at Haskins. 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



101 



THE TOWN OF BENTON 



Why It Was so Named Samuel Ewing Killed 



THE town of Benton, one of the "has- 
beens/' was located a short 
distance west of Tontogany, and David 
Hedges was its proprietor. It was laid 
ont during the best days of Thomas 
Benton, "Old Bullion" as he was called. 
Hedges was a Jackson Democrat, and a 
great admirer of old "Tom," and named 
the town in his memory. 

The building used as Hedges' store 
was moved away and was afterward used 
for a barn by Henry Nearing, on the 
Hedges farm, owned by Morehouse heirs. 
Mrs. Gen. Commager, of Toledo, was a 
daughter of Hedges. The stone house 
on the place was built by him in 1834 or 
'35. Mr. John Whitehead, now of Ton- 
togany, who had just come on from New 
Jersey, helped to do the carpenter work. 
The saw mill at this point did not stand 
very long. 

The ruins of the cellar under the store 
building is all the vestige left of the town 
of Benton. It did not even live to get 



a saloon. The store house was moved 
and is now used as a barn at the stone 
house. 

The Hedges place has a strong claim 
for priority of settlement in Washing- 
ton township, though our chronicler has 
in the recent sketch of the townshi}), 
given the preference to the Chris Gundy 
farm located on by Michael Syphcr in 
the spring of 1830. 

In 1819 Samuel Ewing, father of An- 
thony Ewing, and of the late W. H. Ew- 
ing (Uncle Hank, near Hull's Prairie) 
settled on this place, then called Wolf 

l\apids. 

» 

Killed at Rush-Te-Boo 

Ewing lived here until 1833, when one 
day while at Eichardson's tavern at Eush- 
te-boo, the same place where Porter shot 
Kicliardson, Ewing and a man named 
Ereneli got into an altercation and 
French struck Ewing in such a manner 
as to dislocate his neck, killing him in- 
stantly. French was imprisoned on 
charge of murder in the little log jail 
at Maumee and escaped one night and 
never was heard of after. — Sentinel, 
1883. 



BATTLE OF GRAND RAPIDS 



A Fierce and Savage Battle That Has Not 

Figured Largely in the War 

of 1812 



GEN. LIDA of the United States 
troops gave the following account 
of a fierce battle with the Indians in the 
war of 1812, on the site of the present 
village of Grand Eapids. It was not un- 
til 45 years afterwards that he related 
this account of that battle. He said: 

"One of the toughest and most hotly 
contested little battles ever fought in 



our Indian wars occurred just where your 
little village of Gilead now stands. A 
company of U. S. troops, of which I was 
one,, was ordered from Defiance to Fort 
Meigs. We passed down the nortli bank 
of the river. About noon on a certain 
day, we came opposite the island that 
is in the river there. Our commander 
chose this as a safe place to rest and eat 
dinner. About two hours were consumed 
in this way, and then we made prep- 
arations to continue our journey. Equip- 
ped as we were with the trappings of 
soldiers and the necessaries for an ex- 
tended march our freedom of locomotion 
was not a little encumbered. We pro- 



102 



THE riOXKKK 



eeeded to cross {lie Hapids to the south 
bank, but only a Utile over half the dis- 
tance had been accomplished, when, with- 
out a moment's warning, from the top 
of the bank and beautiful grove over 
the bottom from the river to the bluff 
Ix'hind, belched forth a volley of musketry 
wounding several of our men, but killing 
none outright. The foes, of course, were 
Indians, who appeared to be a host in 
number. They had been lying in close 
concealment, but after the first discharge 
could be seen, and 1 remember, to me at 
least, every tree in the bottom seemed 
to conceal an Indian. We i^romptly took 
refuge under cover of the bank before 
they could load and fire again. The 
river bank here Mas bluffy and perhaps 
15 feet in height. We found immediate 
})rotection hei'e from the enemy's fire, 
and began making our way gradually 
down the river to a ra^ine about SO rods 
distant, carrying our wounded with us. 

"This ravine was a dense thicket of 
l)]ushwood and larger trees, while, from 
the high ground to the liver was free 
from brush; the trees wer.' principally 
maple and made a beautiful looking^ 
grove, which for six hours ^\■e were com- 
pelled to turn into a bloody battle field. 
Before night the dead and dying had 
been strewn from one end of the bottom 
to the other. As soon as we had suc- 
ceeded in establishing ourselves in the 
shelter of the ravine, we began to be 
aggressi^•e in our operations, forcing 
our way up the bottom, keeping ourselves 
in the protection of every friendly cov- 
ert afforded by thicket, tree and hollow, 
and compelled the savage foe to retire 
from i)lace to ]dace ; driving them stead- 
ily up the bottom until we reached ^ 
point about a hundred or more rods from 
our place of starting, where two or three 
mound like knobs with ravines and 
thickets furnished capital rallying points 
for the Indians. Taking advantage of 
this they, with r'doubJLMl t'xertiou. forced 
us back over all the i,n-ound we had 



gained. In like manner we must have 
passed back and forth over the battle 
ground live or six times during the af- 
ternoon. Each time we fell back we 
were careful to carry our dead and 
wounded with us — as far as possible — to 
our rallying point below. 

"On that hotly contested ground many 
met in hand to liajid encounter, at short 
intervals tliroughout the entire afternoon. 
Amid the sharp crack of rifles came the 
battle shout of the whites, the warhoop 
of the savage, and the death yell ! J^o 
one can realize the horrible and blood- 
curdling sensation produced by the death 
yell of an Indian, except, one who has 
seen and heard for himself. The groans 
oi wounded and dying, and that green 
bottom land grove, all this, comes up 
before me to-day. as vividly as the}^ were 
produced in that l^ittle on the lonely 
banks of the .ALaumee over forty-five 
years ago, and I say again it was a bat- 
tle well worthy of the name. I had 
l)een in a dozen l)attles and skirmishes 
before that, and several after, but none 
\\ere as acti\e and tierce, in contest; so 
tenacious and stubborn in holding every 
advantage, considering the number of 
combatants engaged and length of time 
fought incessantly. The soldiers number- 
ed about one hundred and twenty-five and 
of the Indians, no doubt, they were double 
that many. The closing act in this forest 
tragedy occurred, as dusk was coming on, 
by our force driving the Indians to the 
bluffs before mentioned. We then retired 
to our ravine to watch the night through. 
The Indians did not follow us, and during 
night for some reason, withdrew from the 
vicinity entirely, leaving us to bury our 
dead and go on our way unmolested." 

In the coui'se of narrating this bloody 
eJicounter, Gen. Lida became quite ab- 
sorbed with the memories of the past. 
Evidently this incident of all others in 
his life impressed him the most. He 
had been a soldier \inder Wayne and seen 
nnich of liulian warfare. 



SCKAP-BOOK. 



103 



MERCER SETTLEMENT 



Advent of Caleb Mercer — A Plucky Young- 
ster — Lost in the Woods Tur- 
key Fight 



CALEB MERCEK was the second of 
the Mercer family to come to Wood 
count}', and arrived here at the age of 
19, in March 1834. He started out as 
ai mere boy from his home in Columbiana 
county, to seek his fortune in the wilder- 
ness of western Ohio. All he brought 
with him was his "knapsack" and gun, 
and money enougb to enter a small piece 
of land. He was nine days on his 
journey of 300 miles, and spent his first 
night in Wood county at the house of 
Ashael I'owers, the first settler at the 
"^'forks'" in Freedom township, and from 
there went to his brother, Greorge Mer- 
cer, in Liberty, who had at this time 
been here about a year. It is needless 
to say it required pluck for a mere boy 
to start out alone, on foot, to make a 
long journey into an unknown and al- 
most uninhabited wilderness, through 
mud and water, and leave behind friends 
and relatives, to seek a home in the 
forest familiar only to the red man and 
the ol:)jects of his prey. 

Young Mercer immediately on his ar- 
rival located land in Section 14, of Lib- 
ert}', and set out in a day or two, again 
on foot, for Bucyrus, a distance of 60 
miles, to enter the land at the land of- 
fice. He left the house of Collister Has- 
kins about 10 o'clock one cloudy March 
day, intending to reach Fostoria, then 
called Eome, that night. After he had 
proceeded on his journey about five 
miles, by the way of an Indian trail lead- 
ing in a southeasterly direction, he heard 
a queer noise in the woods off to one side 
of the trail, and being curious as to its 
cause, he proceeded to investigate and 



found it was caused by a flock of nearly 

Three Hundred Wild Turkeys 

That were fighting a terrible battle. He 
said he had never seen such a sigh I in 
his life, and it is probable that two 
strange flocks had come together, and 
the matter of chief gobbler was being de- 
cided. 

After dispersing the battle of turkeys 
he turned to find the trail he had left, 
Imt much to his dismay he was unable 
to find it. He wandered about for some 
time and soon became confused and lost. 
After a time he struck a creek, the mean- 
dering of which he aimlessly followed un- 
til about dark, when the welcome sound 
of a cow bell struck his ear. Following 
the sound he soon came upon a cow, and 
near by perceived the bhie smoke curling 
up from a cabin, whii-h lie thinks must 
have stood near the Hancock county line. 
Upon going to the little luit he found 
a man and woman just preparing to 
abandon their home in the wilderness 
the next morning. fiercer asked for 
something to eat and lodgment for the 
night, and was informed they hadn't ''a 
h\te in the house to eat," but that he 
might remain over night, whieh he did. 
The next morning he got his l)earings, 
and struck for Eome which he reached 
that afternoon, when he got something to 
eat, the first nourishment he had had 
since his departnre from Haskins' about 
thirty hours before. From Eome he pro- 
ceeded to Bucyrus, entered his land and 
returned to his brother's again on foot. 
It might be stated here, that Mr. ]\Iercer 
traveled the road l)etween Columbiana 
county and Wood county, a distance of 
300 miles, on foot five times, and between 
Bucyrus and here, 00 miles, on foot six 
times. 

The same spring, "34, he cleared five 
acres of land on his new farm and built 
a cabin. The five acres he planted to 
corn and a small patch of potatoes. The 
com crop was devoured by the squirrels 



104 



THE PIOXEER 



and coon, but he managed to save a few 
potatoes. 

The following fall he went back to 
Columbiana county for his father (Wm. 
Mercer) and mother, who returned with 
him, accompanied by his sister Lucretia, 
and brothers Abram and Charles. They 
all took up their abode in the cabin he 
had built the previous spring. They 



drove througli with them a herd of 40 
cattle, probably the largest number ever 
brought to the county up to that time. 
They, however, had much difficulty in 
keeping the cattle througli that winter, 
a number of which strayed away and 
never were found. Thus began the Mer- 
cer settlement in Liberty. — C. W. E. 



OIL IN WOOD COUNTY 



Brief Summary of Its History Wood in the 
Very Center of Oil Production 



MANY of the residents of this por- 
tion of Ohio well remember the 
intense excitement twenty-five years ago 
in the eighties upon the discovery of 
oil in Wood county. Pen cannot describe 
the wild, feverish unrest and anxiety 
that prevailed among all citizens. In- 
vestors and speculators were attracted to 
the county by hundreds. It was the day 
of the gusher. While oil was struck in 
different counties in Northwestern Ohio, 
Wood county, in the heart of the Black 
Swamp proved to be the "King Bee" — 
the greatest oil producing county in the 
history of crude oil probably on the con- 
tinent at that time. No county equaled 
it then even in Pennsylvania. Oil was 
found in no less than sixteen townships, 
indicating that hundreds of feet beneath 
us was a vast lake of oil. 

In those days Bloom, Henry, Liberty, 
Portage and Jackson townships were re- 
garded as gusher territory, while remark- 
able producers were also found in Plain, 
Middleton, Montgomery, Freedom and 
Perry townships. Prices for land, went 
skyward. Farms that previously could 
have been purchased for $10 to $25 and 
$50 an acre, could not be touched for 



less than hundreds of dollars per acre. 
One incident may suffice to show this. 
One farmer who had a tract of 50 acres, 
who would have gladly disposed of his 
farm at $50 an acre, declared he would 
not sell under $30,000 and he didn't 
care for that. This is not an isolated 
instance, but there were many of the 
same kind. Such was the excitement at 
that time that it was difficult to secure 
land at any jirice. Values went to a 
high level throughout the county, al- 
though in the passage of years, there has 
been a decline from the high standard of 
that period, yet they are maintained to- 
day at a high level, when compared with 
prices before the oil period, and that 
high level is normal and will so continue. 
More than half of the oil producers in 
the Wood county field came from Penn- 
sylvania, experts in the business. They 
not only came themselves, but brought 
their household goods, their families, and 
all the property they had; they have set- 
tled in the towns; they have become per- 
manent residents and tax payers; they 
are helping build up the towns and are 
increasing the duplicates with refineri'^s, 
their pipe lines and all of their property, 
which would not be there a moment if it 
were not for the oil development. They 
have added to the wealth of the state — 
it is difficult to say how much, but an 
ex-auditor of Wood claims that in this 
county alone these producers increase 
the value on the tax duplicate of more 



SCKAP-BOOK. 



1(1.-) 



than five million dollars, more than that 
of any other property or interest in the 
county. 

There were in those early days many 
gushers. One developed at Hammans- 
burg in December of 1886 will suffice as 
a sample of those spouters. William 
Carothers, an experienced driller, had the 
contract for sinking the well and the 
work was in charge of C. Ash, They 
drilled 430 feet through lime stone and 
MO feet through slate. At^ this point 
they struck the Trenton rock, and said 
Mr. Ash, "we drilled in this awhile and 
had about given up getting anything. 
We were losing hope every minute and 
Monday afternoon, the 6th, at r> o'clock, 
we were just 30 feet in the Trenton when 
we heard a noise in the well which began 
to fill. We stopped the drill and were 
hardly out of the way when the oil spout- 
ed u]! over the derrick and 85 feet in the 
air. We quickly put the fire out under 
the boiler and withdrew from the field. 
The flow was so continuous that we were 
not able to get our tools out until Thurs- 
day. 

A representative of the Sentinel visit- 
ed the gusher when it had been flowing 
for four days at intervals averaging about 
18 minutes, and he says it seemed sure- 
ly that if there was one there were 4,000 
barrels of oil running on the ground. A 
wagon path in the woods was nearly a 
foot deep in oil, which run each way for 
many rods from the well. A half acre 
of land was covered with it, and a man 
walking a log made a misstep onto the 
ground and went over his boot top. The 
derrick and surrounding trees were drip- 
ping with the crude material and the 
men at work were covered with it. 

This was the first well of any import- 
ance drilled in the county, and in 1887 
four gushers were completed, yielding 
1,200, 4,800, 1,500 and 800 barrels re- 
spectively. Two gushers in 1888 gave 
.3,000 and 1,250 barrels. Eight gushers 
in 1889 vielded 27,100 barrels. In 1890 



one gusher gave 6U0 barrels. Nearly a 
score of wells drilled in 1891 yielded 
7,300 barrels. In 1892 twenty gushers 
yielded 36,600 barrels. In 1893 there 
were recorded 22 gushers yielding 16,000 
barrels. In 1894 four gushers yielded 
3,300 barrels. Several gushers were re- 
corded in 1895 yielding 4,000 barrels. 
Other gushers were recorded in the 
years 1896, 1897 and 1898, yielding an 
average of 500 barrels each. In 1901 
a 1,200 barrel producer was drilled in 
Liberty township. These figures are 
taken from the oil reports as given in 
the newspapers at that time. Hundreds 
of other gushers too numerous to men- 
tion were completed throughout Wood 
county, making it one of the wealthiest 
counties in the state. 

Since then the oil industry has con- 
tinued to be a paying one. Here is 
what an old oil expert says with regard 
to the future of Wood county: "With 
the richest land, with inexhaustible soil, 
with a county agriculturally standing at 
the head, and add to it the natural gas 
advantages which is bound to bring man- 
ufacturing, and oil with the attendant 
business outgrowing therefrom — I say, 
with all these things taken into consider- 
ation, I know of no spot in America with 
a brighter future. Eeal estate in any 
event is bound to boom and good results 
follow from what has already taken 
place." 



The earliest tradition has it that at 
one time there was a continuous water 
route from the Lakes to the Mississippi, 
navigable for canoes with the exception 
of a "portage" about nine miles across 
at the head of the Mauraee, and that this 
"portage" was owned or controlled by 
an Indian woman who exacted tribute 
for all goods tlial were transferred across 
it. 



106 



THE PIOXEEE 



EARLY SCHOOL DAYS 



The "Little Red School House" of the Past 
— The Enjoyment of Spelling Matches 



M 



ANY there are who may yet re- sj 
member something of the educa- 



tional facilities sixty or seventy years 
ago. Then they knew nothing of the 
grades in schools. The settlers were few 
in number, their wants were few and 
these were bountifully supplied. The 
benches were crude, seats had no backs, 
and yet there was little or no complaint, 
as they knew of nothing better in the 
way of conveniences. Pu^jils were com- 
pelled to trudge through brush and mud 
and cold from one to three miles or 
more. 

The average wage paid to the teacher 
then was $10 a month of 26 days, and 
three months was about the limit of the 
contract. Included probably in the con- 
tract was that of- "boarding "round," as 
was the custom in those days. 

One of the customs of that time was 
to bar the scliool master out of the 
house, and keep him out until he yielded 
to the demands of the scholars to treat 
them to apples, candies, raisins, or such 
hixuries as could then be had. 

Gov. Foster in speaking of those early 
days, himself a teacher in that early 
day, says that James Pillars, who after- 
\\ards graced the bench for ten years, 
as the Common Pleas Judge of this judi- 
cial district, when a young num contract- 
ed to teach a school for ten dollars per 
month, of twenty-six days; one-half to 
be paid in cash, and the other half in 
provisions. 

In those days the great feature of our 
schools was the attention given to spell- 
ing. It is seriously doubted whether the 
schools of the present day can produce 
so much excellence in spelling as did 
those of that day. One-fourth of the 



time, probal»ly, was ilcvoa'd to spelling 
exercises, and in addition, at least one- 
niglit of eacli week was devoted to what 
was known as spelling matelies. These 
were attench'd by the b;'s1 s[)ellers from 
the neighboring schools. Tlie highest 
ambition of tlic pupil was to be the best 
sjicller in school. 

In an address on those early days, 
I he late Gov. Foster says that he is per- 
fectly safe in saying that he attended 
spelling school three nights out of a 
week, during the three months of school 
for several years — visiting alternately 
three different school houses. He believ- 
ed that his sister, Emily, was the best 
speller of all, and she w^as under twelve 
years of age. The larger scholars used 
1(1 carry her on their backs as they went 
to the different schools on foot, the only 
way of going to thesL' meetings. The 
(lovernor relates this incident in his boy- 
hood school days. "1 remember of go- 
ing one nigiit, to the Kiser school house, 
through the woods the most of the way, 
and alone, to attend a spelling match. 
1 broke through the ice, and was wet up 
to my knees when I reached the place; 
yet I do not think I ever felt better re- 
l)aid for a day's work than I did over 
my success on that occasion, for I spelled 
down the entire school.'^ 

Those good old days are only reminis- 
cences now in the dim and distant past, 
•■(iood old days*" may be said deliberate- 
ly and seriously without exaggeration, 
for it is very doubtful if any of the 
pupils of the present day experience more 
delight and genuine pleasure in any 
equal number of days at the present time. 



At the meeting of the C'ommissioners, 
May 5, 1820, Attorney McCurdy present- 
ed an order of Court for $20, his com- 
pensation as prosecuting attorney of 
Wood county, for the May term of 1820. 



SCKAP-BOOK. 



10^ 



HENRY DUBBS 



One of the Early Settlers of Liberty 
His Son Lewis Built a Tannery. 



With 



HENRY DUBBS was the first settler 
in the west part of Liberty town- 
ship. He came from Ashland county and 
entered the land upon which he biiilt his 
home. He had one son Lewis, now de- 
ceased, and two daughters, i\.nn, who 
married Ebenezer Donaldson of Grand 



Eapids, and Sarah, who married Daniel 
Barton of Milton township. 

Mr. Dubbs and his son Lewis, were 
tanners by trade and soon after their ar- 
rival, built a tannery on their lands, 
probably the first in the county, and did 
a large and successful business. 

Lewis Dubbs was Justice of the Peace 
in Liberty for 37 years. He was prom- 
inent in advancing the best interests of 
the early settlement and a leader in pub- 
lic improvements; educated, kind and 
generous, and his name is remembered 
with respect by those who know him. — • 

r. w. E. 



MAIL ROUTE 



Established in 1829 Between Perrysburg and 
Bellefontaine 



AS this uurtliwestern part of Ohio 
began to be opened up a mail route 
was established on March 12, 1829, be- 
tween Perrysburg and Bellefontaine, and 
the first post office in the interior of 
Wood county was located where Portage 
now is, with Collister Haskins for post- 
master. Soon after this Haskins built a 
log store on the south bank of the Port- 
age river and stocked it with goods best 
adapted to his customers, a majority of 



^\•llom were Indians and with whom he 
built up a large fur trade. 

Thus it will be seen that Haskins was 
uot only the first resident of Liberty 
township, but also established the first 
store in Portage and might be called the 
founder of the only village in Liberty 
township. This store was probably the 
third regular trading point started in 
Wood county, others being at Perrysburg 
;ind Grand Eapids. 

The first mail carrier on the route 
above mentioned was James Gordon who 
carried the mail on horseback, made one 
trip a week each way and usually an'ivcd 
at Haskins at noon where he took his 
dinner.— C. W. E. 



INDIAN SKELETON 



Exhumed Over Thirty Years Ago — Somewhat 

of a Mystery ThatlMay Never 

Be Solved 



IN the spring of 1879, a skeleton was 
exhumed five miles west of Bowling 
Green, by brick yard men, who were en- 
gaged in excavating sand for their yard 
on the top of a somewhat noted sand 



dune, on the north side of Keeler prairie^ 
known to the early settlers by the Indian 
name of Shut-nok. 

In the Sentinel Mr. Evers says this 
skeleton is supposed to be the remains 
of an Indian, or some other human of 
giant stature. He had been buried with 
his head to the west. Between his legs 
sat a two gallon brass kettle in a good 
state of preservation excepting the bot- 
tom, which is partially gone. Inside this 
kettle set a small iron kettle which is 
nearly consumed by rust, except the bail. 



108 



THE PlOXEEfi 



Near the side of the skeleton lay a rust- 
eaten tomahawk, scalping knife and a 
flint steel for lighting fire, also a stone 
smoke pipe. The bones, of which but 
few if any are missing, even to the toe 
and finger bones, are in an excellent state 
of preservation and indicate by their size 
that they were once the mechanism of 
a powerful man. The skull on which 
still clings some frizzy substance like 
hair, is one which phrenologists would 
say indicated the Indian to have been no 
common fellow in his tribe. It is a 
well-shaped, large skull for an Indian, 
though the prominent cheek bones and 
low forehead are distinctly recognizable. 
The fellow had, in his day, an excellent 
set of teeth — small, sound and evenly 
set, though well worn and only two 
missiug out of the two and thirty."^ One 
arm had, in his lifetime, been broken and 
the bone had knit together very clumsily, 
deforming the aim by a great bulge and 
crook. In the back of his skull is a 
small hole, but whether this hole had 
anything to do with Jiis taking off, is an 
uncertainty. 

Mr. Avery says from the best informa- 
tion he can get from the old settlers, 
the grave has been there not less than 
45 years, that is, no burial has taken 
place there since the neighborhood was 
settled. He also thinks that the grave 
was not less than four feet deep original- 
ly, something not usual in Indian burials. 

Avoided by Indians 

Shut-nok, on which this grave was 
found, is, or was before its surface was 
disturbed by the plow, the highest sand 
mound in Wood county. How it came 
to bear this name, none of the old set- 
tlers seem to know, though the belief 
has been current and has been handed 
down from generation to generation tliat 
it bore the name of a chief of one of 
the fragmentary tribes inhabiting the 
Maumee country after Anthony Wayne 
broke their power in 1794. There are 



others who have been led to believe this 
spot M^as the burial place of a chief 
whose name it bore. But why a chief 
or any other influential man in his tribe 
should be buried in this then lonely 
place when the burial ground was only 
a few miles away on the j\Iaumee, we 
cannot understand. 

There is another story that comes to 
us more directly from an early chronicler, 
who was once connected with the Indian 
mission at the Station Island. He states 
that the Indians avoided the place under 
the superstitious belief that the Great 
Spirit had set its seal of displeasure — 
a curse upon the place for some sin com- 
mitted by his children, the secret of 
which was hidden beneath the grassy sur- 
i'ace of the mound. 

An Indian Legend 

In this connection a story is circulated 
that the chief Tondoganie had a daugh- 
ter either his own or an adopted daugh- 
ter — a beautiful girl who was loved by 
a young Indian of the Shawanee tribe, 
and of noble birth, but whose tribe had 
dwindled down to only a fragment, so 
that he had lost his greatness in the eyes 
of the chief Tondoganie, who looked up- 
on him with disfavor. The young In- 
dian's love was reciprocated by the girl, 
and was a secret between them. Her 
lover's home was at Sandusky plains 
along with the great chief Black Hoof 
or Tarhe, but he often made visits to 
the Maumee ostensibly to fish, but for 
no other purpose than to see the dark 
eyed maiden. This secret love was de- 
tected by the quick perceptions of the 
chief, and with flashing eye and angry 
voice, he pointed the young man to the 
plains and told him to GO and never 
return. Both the lovers knew the penal- 
ty of disobeying. 

The girl secretly stole away and fol- 
lowed her lover in the direction of his 
home until they reached a high mound, 
the highest perhaps in the county, on the 



SCKAP-BOOK. 



109 



north side of what is now known as the 
Keeler Prairie, when she bade him fare- 
well, and watched his receding form un- 
til he passed from her sight forever. 
The heart broken girl returned to her 
father's wigwam, but fell into a despond- 
ent state of mind and could not be 
roused. She would be missed at times 
for days and nights together, and some 
of Tondoganie's runners reported to him 
that she was wont to stand on the high 
mound looking to the south chanting a 
mournful song. Finally she was missed 
and came back no more and a supersti- 
tion prevailed that in the darkness of 
night the figure of an Indian girl with 
her blanket about her shoulders, could 
be seen on the mound and that strange 
sounds as of some one singing a funeral 
dirge could be heard echoing in the grove 
below. The mound has ever since gone 



by the name of Shut-nok, said to be the 
name of the girl. 

The same authority for the above ac- 
count, stated that Tondoganie's anger 
was such because of the love of the girl 
against his wish, that he called upon 
some of the young men of his band to 
rid him of the cause. These young men 
stealthily dogged the movements of the 
girl until they discovered the place where 
she met her lover, whom they waylaid, 
murdered and buried in the mound, and 
on the final disappearance of the girl 
the chief forbid his tribe from visiting 
the place which only brought him memor- 
ies of remorse and sorrow. 

Such is one of the stories handed 
down from mouth to ear and which may 
have lost many details of what was a 
tragic romance, or it may, as is often 
the case, have gained much by repetition. 



A FIERCE BATTLE 



Fought in the Fall of 1812 on the Ground 
Which Perrysburg Now Occupies 



IT may not be generally known that 
the site of the present town of Perrys- 
burg was once the scene of a tierce battle 
between the Indians and Americans, but 
such is the fact. The news of the 
cowardly surrender of Gen. Hull at De- 
troit in August, 1813, spread like the 
wind throughout Ohio, and struck the 
frontier settlers with dismay. It aroused 
the people from their lethargy, and 
showed the government the necessity of 
greater activity and skill in the conduct 
of the war. In the fall of 1812, General 
Tupper, of Gallia county, raised 1,000 
men, mainly from the counties of Gallia, 



Lawrence, Jackson, and marched to the 
foot of the rapids of the Maumee river. 
From TJrbana they followed Hull's trail. 
As they approached the river the Indians 
appeared on the opposite bank. Tupper 
endeavored to cross the river in the 
night, but owing to the rapid current 
and the inexperience of his men, he failed 
and went into camp on the ground where 
Perrysburg now stands. The enemy soon 
after collected a superior force, and at- 
tacked him in his camp but after a short, 
sharp engagement, they were defeated 
with considerable loss and returned to 
Detroit. The Americans fell back on 
Fort McArthur. 



In 1701 Cadillac, with a Jesuit mis- 
sionary and 100 men, laid the founda- 
tion of Detroit, naming it Ponchartrain. 



110 



THE IMONEER 



THE DREAD CHOLERA 



Dr. Kinnaman, First Practicing Physician in 

Perry — Rude Tools for Surgical 

Operation 



IiSi October, 1835, says a correspoudent 
of the Sentinel in 1877, 0. Diver en- 
tered 8U acres one-lialf mile south of 
Mill Grove, this being undoubtedly the 
last entry near Mill Grove. 

About this time the cholera made its 
appearance at Eon)e (now Fostoria) and 
Kisdon in Seneca county, but few died. 
However, its advent sent terror to the 
hearts of the settlers in Perry, who with 
or without — for they were often without 
— (juinine, could battle the "shakes'^ from 
July to late in September, and without 
a physician would successfully cope with 
the malarial fevers that followed. 

Cholera, however, the very word itself 
made the boldest quake. Dr. John 
Kinnaman a graduate of Philadelphia 
College was the first practicing physic- 
ian. He was a young man highly edu- 
cated and a lover of his profession. His 
coming was hailed with delight by the 



settlers. He located about two miles 
south of Mill Grove. A very large wal- 
nut stiimp served him for a laboratory, 
drug repository and general reception 
room. He laid out a town at this point 
and named it Royalton, but it died in 
its infancy shortly aft^r the demise of 
its founder. 

Dr. Kinnaman's patients were scatter- 
ed over the entire southern part of the 
county, and his inde fatigability in riding 
was wonderful and denoted a man of 
iron nerve. Many times in riding he 
would cut down a tree, hitch his horse 
to oiu' of its branches and let him browse 
until his patient was out of danger, often 
from eight to ten hours. 

The following is an instance of this 
iiKuTs ni'rve and ability in his profession. 
Swane a settler of Perry was hurt by 
tlie falling of a tree. In a few days it 
was found necessary to amputate the leg. 
Dr. Kinnaman was sent for and arrived. 
Without any assistance and with no 
surgical implements but a razor and old 
saw, the Doctor amputated the limb neat- 
ly and speedily, and the man got well. 

Dr. Kinnaman died in '38 a victim of 
excessive attention to medical study and 
overwork. 



PASSED AWAY 



A Once Powerful Tribe That Enjoyed a 
Happy Life Clos2 to Nature 



THE first settlers of Washington 
township, found here the remnants 
of a once powerful tribe of Indians. 
Their old men and warriors liad listened 
to the counsels and obeyed the commands 
of their great Chief Tondoganie. Tlieir 
wigwams were in the belt of timl)er which 
skirted the river; and the l)road prairie 
which has become so fertih' uii(l<'r skill- 
ful cultivation, afforded ihcni huntino: 



grounds and space for the young warrior 
to practice himself in imaginary battles 
to improve his skill in an art which 
fortunately, he has never since had an op- 
portunity to practice. 

The river and creek furnished them 
with hsli, and on the flowery banks they 
passed a happy, indolent life. They 
were the remnants of a race which ac- 
cording to the laws of nature, had had 
its time on earth, and in obedience to 
that inexorable law, they were fast yield- 
ing to those who were to succeed them 
and hero they lived to meet and see the 
mighty race of men who were to take 
their places. For ages they have lived 



SCKAP-BOOK. 



Ill 



on the bounties of nature without mak- 
ing her any return. 

The}' were a race governed by instinct; 
they made no advance in agriculture, 
commerce or the arts. Tlie son made 
his canoe and armed himself with the 
bow and arrow as his father had done, 
as mechanically and with as little im- 
jDrovement as the young robin builds its 



nest in imitation of the parent bird. 
Their time had come; their race was 
doomed; and here on the banks of this 
beautiful stream, where the dark eyed 
Indian maiden had taught the young 
chief to love her, a fairer maiden was 
to take her place and by the graces of 
a purer virtue, teach a noble heart to 
love her. 



A SUMMER OF GLOOM 



When Northern Ohio and Indiana Suffered 
The Cholera Scourge in Perrysburg 
In 1854 



OLDER citizens will undoubtedly re- 
member the fatal summer of 18o !-. 
It was indeed a summer of sorrow and 
gloom. This was not only true of 
Xorthern Ohio, but of Northern Indiana 
as well. 'Not a village between Buffalo 
and Chicago that did not furnish its 
quota of suffering and death from the 
malarial poison that impregnated the 
very atmosphere, spreading intermittent 
and typhoid fevers, as well as that dread- 
ed scourge, cholera. These afflictions 
became epidemic, and in some localities 
there were not enough persons well 
to take care of the sick. 

Take Goshen, Indiana, population 
1,500 then. For two months there was 
a funeral daily, sometimes two or three. 
Xot a family escaped affliction. Two 
cabinet shops were busy night and day 
making coffins, and physicians had 
mighty little rest from their strenuous 
labors. 

Probably no town suffered like Perrys- 
burg. The scourge started, it seems 
from a ball that was held on the night 
of the -ith of July, when the first 
case of cholera made its appearance, and 
from that time until the 19th of August 



following there were 117 deaths — at least 
that is the number buried in Fort Meigs 
cemetery, and there may have been many 
more. x\mong that number are included 
Albert D. Wright, editor of the North- 
western Democrat, Dr. James Robertson, 
Dr. Frederick, Jarvis Spafford, John J. 
Spink, and many others. The deaths 
were startling in their suddenness and 
sadness. The epidemic was one of great 
virulence. So great were the ravages of 
this terrible visitation at that place, that 
it put a check upon business of every 
kind, no paper was issued and no other 
business transacted for seven weeks or 
longer, excepting that of caring for the 
sick and the burial of the dead. In- 
cluded among those who passed away 
were some of the most active business 
men of the place. Dr. E. D. Peck and 
Dr. James Robertson were on duty night 
and da}^, the latter falling a victim to 
the scourge in the very midst of his 
strenuous labors. Two-thirds of the res- 
idents fled from the town, leaving a 
comparative few to fight the dread epi- 
demic. Among those noble men and 
women, aside from the physicians may 
l)e mentioned Joshua Chappel, Seth 
Bruce, N. H. Callard, Mrs. A. E. Fred- 
erick and Mrs. Amelia Perrin, who were 
volunteer nurses during the terrible 
calamity. There may have been a few 
others, but we have not their names. 
All these have passed away, but they 
nol)ly performed their duty during their 



112 



THE PIOXEER 



life's span. Pernshiirg was indeed "a 
deserted village.'" Grand Kapids fared 
but little better, with a score or more 
of cases and a number of deaths, the 
disease beginning like Perrysburg at a 
4th of July ball. A^ever perhaps in the 
history of the cholera were its ravages 
so fatal as in Perrysburg, and never did 
the few who remained meet death with 
more resolution or endure suffering with 
greater fortitude. 

Seth Bruce made coffins in the hall 
of the log court house and no victim 
was buried without a colSn being furnish- 
ed. Only one person of all that number 



(lied alone, a young man who had a room 
jji a tenement house. He breathed his 
last before the return of his attendant, 
who bad gone for medicine. The women 
were patient and heroic in their care for 
the sick, and there were brave, noble 
men who remained and stood beside 
them in the terrible conflict. 

The physical condition of the inhabi- 
tants, reduced by fever and ague, and 
their systems poisoned by well water 
rather than by miasmatic exhalations, 
left them an easy prey to the ravages of 
I his sweeping epidemic. 



WOOD COUNTY FAIRS 



A Grand Feature of the County's Prosperity 

— Origin and History of These 

Exhibitions 



THEEE is no question of the fact 
that much of the superiority of 
the agricultural products of Wood coun- 
ty has been due to the stimulating in- 
fluences exerted by the Agricultural So- 
ciety. It has lifted the science of agri- 
culture to a higher plane. It has 
brought forth observation, comparison, 
thought and efforts on the part of the 
farmer as well as those interested in 
mechanics and arts. Each one learns 
something of value from a competitor, 
while it is apparent that there has been 
much of benefit from the results of com- 
bined effort. 

The following account of its early 
origin and history is taken from the 
premium list published in 1877 : 

Middleton township, at an early period 
in the history of the county, contained 
a number of intelligent and enterprising 
citizens. In these respects, it surpassed 
any other township in the county, and it 
was natural that the movement for the 



organization of a County Agricultural 
Society should originate there. On the 
26th day of April, 1851, a meeting of 
the farmers and mechanics of the town- 
ship was held, at which David Creps 
presided and H. H. Pain acted as Sec^ 
retary. The object of the movement was 
stated to be the promotion of the inter- 
ests of farmers and mechanics, and it 
was decided to call a mass meeting of 
the i^eople of the county at Bowling 
Green, on the second ]\Ionday of June, 
1851. 

In addition to the President and Se- 
cretary, the following citizens of Middk- 
ton township signed the call for the 
mass meeting, viz; David Whitney, 
Henry Sarvis, Henry Hood, James Mc- 
Ginness, Francis E. Meagle}^, Patrick 
Mclsaac, Robert Clark, W^m. Ewing, 
John Hood and Martin Byers. The call 
was subsequently signed by the following 
persons: E. Huntington, John Bates, 
John Brownsberger, David Ladd, J. 
Spafford, James Hood, Asher Cook, 
James Hall, Jolni Groves, Joseph A. 
Creps, Gabriel Yount, Henry Crook, L. 
F. Robertson, Amelius Robertson, James 
W. Frazer, and John Taylor. 

On the 9th of June, the people con- 
vened at the Methodist Meeting House, 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



113 



iii Bowling Green, when Emelius Wood 
was chosen chairman and Asher Cook 
Secretary. J. K, Tracy, Henry Hood, 
Patrick Mclsaac, James Bhiom and Geo. 
Powers, were appointed a committee to 
draft a constitution for the Wood County 
Agricultural Society. David Whitney, 
John Bates, N. D. Blinn and S. W. St. 
John were appointed a committee, to 
nominate officers for the following year. 
Thomas Jolly, L. C. Lock, and Henry 
Groves, were appointed a committee to 
"procure suitable persons to address the 
meeting and explain the objects of the 
contemplated organization." In the after- 
noon, in response to the request of the 
last named committee, the meeting was 
addi-essed by Messrs. Elliott, Cook and 
Bloom. The committee for that purpose 
reported a constitution, made up of 13 
articles, which was adopted and signed 
by 56 persons, who became members of 
the society. 

Then a series of by-laws were adopted. 
The following persons were appointed a 
committee in each township to collect 
statistical information to be reported to 
the Secretary of the Society: 

Perrysburg — ^^. D. Blinn, Asher Cook 
and James Hood. 

Middleton — I). Wliitney, Henry Sarvis 
and Patrick Mclsaac. 

Washing-ton — Martin Warner, Jr., John 
Bamber and Geo. Warner. 

Weston — B. Bassett, S. Jefferson and 
Benj. Olney. 

Liberty — James Bloom, Henry Groves 
and John C. Wooster. 

Plain — S. W. St. John, Xathan Min- 
ton and J. E. Tracy. 

Center — L. C. Lock, Lee Moore and 
Henry Shively. 

Portage — Collister Haskins. 

Bloom — E. Gorton. 

This was an important work, but there 
is no evidence that any of the commit- 
tees were ever heard from in an official 
capacity. The following officers were 
chosen for the ensuing year: President, 



John McMahan; Vice-President, W. E. 
Peck; Eecording Secretary, E. Elliott; 
Corresponding Secretary, George Powers; 
Treasurer, John Bates; Managers, Benj. 
Olney, David Ladd, Edwin Gorton, 
Henry Hood and John Groves. 

Aside from the fact that a meeting 
was held on the 36th of July, 1851, to 
arrange for holding the first Fair, and 
also the fact that the Fair for 1852 is 
designated as the "second Fair," there 
is no recorded evidence that a Fair was 
held in 1851, nor is there any record 
of the place where it was held, tho\igh 
probably the first County Fair was held 
at Bowling Green. 

The foregoing facts respecting the or- 
ganization of the Society are quite com- 
plete, except the almost total omission 
of reference to the first Fair, in which 
the people of to-day would feel a lively 
interest. Subsequent Fairs were ignored 
by the Society's secretaries with equal 
care, and the points of real interest are 
thus largely omitted. The second Fair 
was lield at Perrysburg, the third was 
held at Bowling Green, the fourth and 
fifth at Portageville, and the sixth and 
seventh at Bowling Green. At the 
seventh annual meeting of the Society, 
the board elected for the ensuing year 
was authorized to "procure suitable 
grounds for the xA.nnual Fair and per- 
manently locate the same." 

At a meeting held in July, 1858, a 
vote was taken upon the permanent loca- 
tion of the Fair, when Bowling Green 
received five votes and Portageville two 
votes. The next Fair was held at Bowl- 
ing Green, but the permanent location of 
the Fair was not satisfactory to rival 
villages. Portageville inaugurated an in- 
dependent Fair, and in 1860 the County 
Society held their Fair at Perrysburg. 

Subsequently, perhaps in 1865 or 
1866, the Society purchased grounds at 
Tontogany and permanently located the 
Fair at that point. This result grew 
out of the countv seat contest and is 



114 



THE PIONEER 



understood to have been brought about 
bj' Perrysburg in the hope that it might 
result to the disadvantage of Bowling 
Green. The latter village naturally felt 
resentful and organized an Independent 
Society, but it proved a losing operation 
and was soon abandoned. 

Space will not permit further record 
of the Society's history here, but it may 
not be improper to mention the fact that 
the fairs of Wood county have compared 
favorably with any exhibitions of a simi- 
lar character in the state. With the 
richest of soil in the hands of intelligent 
and enterprising farmers, the products 
of Wood county have excited the pride 
of citizens of the county and command- 
ed the admiration of strangers. At state 
fairs, Wood county has carried oif her 
full share of i^remiums, and seldom fails 
in a competition with other localities 
where she has a fair chance. 

Further Growth 

In addition to this piece of ancient 
history it may be said that this Society 
has grown and expanded with the years 
and its exhibitions hold their own in 
popularity and are visited by hundreds 
throughout the State. It stands in the 
van of all similar exhibitions in North- 
western Ohio. 

Within a few years past the needle 
work, art and educational exhibits have 
proven to be a strong feature and have 
attracted the interests of thousands of 
visitors. The erection of buildings and 
other equipment are added from year to 
year, and this expansion can not fail to 
give added interest to all classes of our 
people, and thus keep pace with the pro- 
gress and prosperity of all. Under the 
stimulus of the great and instructive ex- 
hibitions, such as have been given, new 
ideas are brought out, new sciences de- 
veloped and better and more profitable 
methods learned, and we will go on in 
the march of progi-ess until we of to-day 
will be as far behind in comparison as 



that first Fair here years ago is behind 
to-day.— C. W. E. 



AN HISTORICAL CRISIS 

The importance of the victory at Ft. 
Meigs to the nation is thus summarized 
by a i^ioneer chronicler of the times: 

As a pivotal point in the war of 1812, 
no battle was of greater importance than 
the battle of Ft. Meigs. Had Gen. Har- 
rison been compelled to surrender, the 
battle of the Thames would never have 
been won. Perry's conflict on Lake Erie 
would never have been fought, the whole 
Northwest would have been in the hands 
of the British and Indians, and the 
frontiers along the whole continent would 
not have been safe for an hour against 
the attacks of the wily savages. Gen. 
Jackson might have been_ defeated at 
New Orleans, the British under Prevost 
and Ross might have won at Ogdens- 
burg, or captured Baltimore. Gen. 
Brown and Gen. Scott might have lost 
Lundy's Lane, and still the defeats would 
have left the nation safe.~ But the cap- 
ture of Ft. Meigs by Gen. Proctor would 
have lighted the torch all over the North- 
west. It would have made the British 
masters of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Ill- 
inois and Kentucky. It would have en- 
abled the allies to push on to the foot 
of the Alleghanies and even the Eastern 
states would not have been proof against 
the attacks of Proctor and his savages. 
Fort Meigs is indeed historic ground. 



Hull's trace through Wood county was 
designated many years ago by the dis- 
covery of a large pile of gun barrels, 
locks, flints and bayonets near Portage. 
The discovery was made by a little girl 
in search of cows. At anotlior time the 
entire iron work of an army wagon was 
found near the same place. 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



115 



THE MAUMEE PIONEERS 



Written by Mrs. Kate B. Sherwood for the Reunion of the Maumee Valley Pioneers, Held in 
Toledo, February 22, 1880, and Recited by Mrs. Elizabeth Mansfield Irving 



Come, friends, around this festal board, 

Where peace and plenty smile 
And memories in each bosom stored 

Are quickening the while; 
Come, let your hearts go back again. 

With more of joy than tears. 
Unto that sturdy race of men. 

The Maumee Pioneers. 



Our feet are on historic ground. 

The very streets we tread 
Ke-Gcho to a solemn sound 

Above the shroudless dead. 
Now French, now British we define, 

Xow red ally appears, — 
They form a vast and shadowy line. 

The Maumee Pioneers. 



Let others tell the tales of Dee, 

The Danube and the Don, 
The Rhine that ripples to the sea. 

The Iser rolling on; — 
New England's glades and palisades, 

Virginia's vaunted years, — 
We'll tell of sturdier men and maids. 

The Maumee Pioneers. 



Here sleeps the braves of Pontiac, 

There Harmar's hosts go down. 
And bold "Mad Anthony" brings back 

The knights of old renown; 
There Harrison's battalions glance 

Along the burnt frontiers. 
And in the trail of arms advance 

The Maumee Pioneers. 



We'll tell how came the brave La Salle, 

Two hundred years ago, 
To list St. Mary's madrigal, 

Responsive to St. Joe; 
To speak the vows that woke the trance 

Of long unfruitful years, 
And give to Frontenac and France 

The Maumee Pioneers. 

Of Couthenianehe whose lonely fort 

A century before. 
Stood guard where Fort Miami's port 

Heard British cannon roar; 
How stripped Perrot the faggot sees 

Flash through Miami's jeers, 
'Till save the swift Outagamis, 

The Maumee Pioneers. 

I mind me in those bloody days 

Of Foxes, Sacs and Sioux, 
Of Miamis and Ottawas, 

And Iroquois and Pous, 
An Indian woman 'tis we see 

Before her Priest in tears; 
Her prayers have saved from massacre 

The Maumee Pioneers. 



Fort Meigs and Fort Miami show 

A sweet and solemn truce, 
And old Fort Industry I trow 

Has met a nobler use; 
So wc aboAc our levelled graves. 

Across the flood of years, 
May name with once dishonored braves 

The Maumee Pioneers. 

For valor's not of any race, 

And right of grace has none. 
If Wayne is given a hero's place, 

Tecumseh's fame is won; 
If Wells be praised for warlike deeds 

That wring the heart with tears. 
Then Simon OirtvV t'l-alty leads 

The Maumee Pioneers. 

The days of bow and spear are fled, 

Of tent and bark tepee. 
The ax is ringing in their stead, 

The woodman zones his tree; 
And where the Indian village stood 

The cabin chinked appears. 
And white-haired children scour the wood, — 

The Maumee Pioneers, 



116 



THE PIONEER 



They fight no barbed and painted foe, 

They run no gauntlet where 
The Indian tomahawk is slow 

A captured foe to spare; 
Tliey fly no cruel massacre 

Of plundering buccaneers; 
But deadlier foes they stricken see, 

The Maumee Pioneers. 



The wind is up, the sails are spread. 

The gales of traffic blow; 
The Yankee comes with level head. 

The Teuton sure and slow; 
The thrifty Scot, the Irish true, — 

And Quaker grace appears 
A wholesome leaven running through 

The Maumee Pioneers. 



They fought the famine and the cold. 

They conquered field and flood. 
They drove the murrain from the fold, 

The fever from the blood; 
Their triumphs blossom in the vales, 

And blush along the piers. 
And fleck the lake with snowy sails. 

The Maumee Pioneers. 



free born sires ! from whom there runs 

A tide of valor through 
The hearts of sons' remotest sons ! 

wives, and daughters true ! — • 
Who toil and spin, and spin and pray, 

And hiding homesick tears 
Keep heart and hope that crown to-day 

The Maumee Pioneers ! 



Blow soft above their lowly grave, 

North wind swift and keen ! 
And South wind that the lily waves 

Keep aye their grasses green ! 
Spirit of the Centuries ! 

Blow on his heart who hears. 
And wake to fragrant memories 

The Maumee Pioneers ! 



BUT THE SHOT MISSED 

On a clear, bright morning in the 
early spring of 1813, writes a pioneer 
chronicler. Gen. Harrison was standing 
on the earth works of Ft. Meigs. As he 
stood there his eye rested on scenes 
which have since become famous in the 
history of the state and nation. In the 
clear sunlight every foot of ground for 
miles around was visible. At his feet 
flowed the rapids and to the southward 
the river was lost behind the hills. For- 
ests stretched away in every direction. 
Through an opening among the trees an 
Indian chief and a companion were seen. 
A sentry fired and the parties disap- 
peared. Had the aim l)een more true 



and the arm of the sentry been more 
steady a vast amount of bloodshed and 
cruelty might have been averted, for that 
Indian chief was the notorious Tecum- 
seh, his companion — the hated Proctor. 



At one time during the siege of Fort 
Meigs the ammunition was nearly all 
gone, and Gen. Harrison offered a gill of 
whisky to any man who would bring in 
a cannon ball from outside the fort. The 
soldiers kept a score to see who would 
bring in the most, and in this manner 
cannon balls were obtained only to throw 
them over at the British batteries. 




MAUMEE RIVER AND VALLEY 
View Taken from British Point, Maumee City— Foot of the Rapids 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



119 



COL. SELDEN A. DAY 



This Young Officer of the U. S. Artillery 

Had Charge of Jefferson Davis 

at Fort Monroe 



COLONEL SELDEN ALLEN DAY 
and his talented wife, Helen H. 
Gardener, will be remembered by many 
cf the citizens of Bowling Green, as they 
visited Wood county several years since, 
when the accomplished lady gave a lec- 
ture. As writer, author and speaker, she 
is widely known on account of the many 
books she has published of a semi-medical 
nature along the line of heredity. They 
are written in such form and language 
as to make them understood and appre- 
ciated by the general reader. Her suc- 
cess is demonstrated by the fact that the 
products of her pen, put out partly as 
fiction, occupy the reference shelves of 
Cornell university and other scientific 
libraries of natiojial reputation. All this 
has required much earnest study on the 
part of this earnest writer, to whose work 
is attached more than a literary value. 

No less interest attaches to Colonel 
Day than to his talented wife and he 
is known from the Atlantic to the Pa- 
cific seaboard, where he commanded Fort 
Mason, San Francisco, for four years. 
His military career began in 1861, when 
he raised a volunteer company at the 
first call for troops, serving continuously 
in the field until the close of the war and 
was finally made captain for "gallant and 
meritorious service during the war.'' 
Colonel Day's record in the war with 
Spain was also notably brilliant. He 
commanded the first troops that entered 
Porto Eico and on July 28, 1898, ran up 
the American flag on the custom house, 
the first American flag raised over the 
island possessions. In addition to his 
career as a soldier, Colonel Day is the 



successful inventor of a series of military 
and scientific appliances. 

Mr. Day chanced to be the first ofiicer 
of the prison guard at Fort Monroe, 
when Jefferson Davis was brought there 
a prisoner after the close of the war. 
Notwithstanding the account of Ben Per- 
ley Poore of the distinguished prisoner 
being put in irons, the experience of Col. 
Day, while he was in charge of Mr. 
Davis, shows that the prisoner was of a 
most tractable and gentlemanly disposi- 
tion. Here are extracts from a letter 
written by Colonel Day in February, 
1890, from Fort Schuyler, New York: 

Day's Letter 

An article in a New York paper head- 
ed "Grateful to his Guard," alludes to 
kindness on my part to the distinguislicd 
prisoner, the late Jefferson Davis, while 
he was confined at Fort Monroe. While 
I did my duty as best I could I disclaim 
now, as I did then, the idea of kindness 
in doing what any man ought to have 
done for another whom the fortunes of 
war had placed in his keeping. The 
kindness in the case was rather the other 
way. Although I had seen four yt-ars 
of solid war, I was still a youugstor in 
the service, while his experience includ- 
ed the entire range of promotion from 
West Point cadet to Secretary of War, 
and extended from the fall of Eichmond 
back to and through the war with 
Mexico. 

It so happened that I was the first 
officer of the prison guard, detailed from 
the regulars when we came to Fort 
Monroe after the close of the war, and 
of course I took charge of the State 
prisoners, Messrs. Davis and Clay. This 
was after their removal from the case- 
mates to Can-oil Hall. Mr. Davis' room, 
or cell, was on the second floor, and ad- 
joining it was a room occupied by the 
officer of the guard. 

Though many a time during the early 
part of the late war I had, as a young 



120 



THE PIONEER 



volunteer, trudging along on the march 
under the weight of knapsack and gun, 
joined in the chorus: "We'll hang Jeff 
Davis on a sour apple tree/' yet, when 
brought face to face and introduced to 
him by the officer, whom I relieved as 
his custodian, I need hardly say I recog- 
nized a gentleman and treated him ac- 
cordingly. This was the sum total of 
my kindness to him. No one could have 
been more particular or careful that the 
orders governing the prison should be 
carried out than was the prisoner him- 
self. 

One little incident may serve to show 
how delicately the prisoner had to be 
dealt with. His cell was scantily fur- 
nished with only an iron single bedstead, 
a hospital mattress, a small table or 
stand, bucket, bowl and pitcher, and two 
straight-backed, hard wooden kitchen 
chairs — one for the prisoner and the 
other for any visitor he might have; and 
the visitors were few and far between. 
We, officers of the guard, used to have 
our easy rocking chairs brought from 
our quarters (nine were in the same 
building) to sit in during our hours of 
duty, sending them back when relieved. 
One day I offered to exchange my easy 
chair for one of his for the time being. 
"Xo !" said he, "these are the ones fur- 
nished l)y the authorities for my use, 
and it might not l)e right to exchange 
them." '"Oh,"' said I, "if need be I will 
speak to the General about it, and 1 
have no doubt it will ])v all right." 
"No," he said, "don't do it on any. ac- 
count," and T knew he meant it. Still. 
I did not feel quite easy in my rocking 
chair, seeing him sitting bolt upright 
reading day after day on his hard seat. 
One evening as I was about leaving, my 
colored servant had not come up, as was 
usual, to take away my things, so gather- 
ing up luy l)ooks and papers, and with 
hotli hands full. I naid, "Mr. Davis, John 
has i.ot conu' I'oi' my things, won't you 
be kind enough to take charge of my 



chair until I send for it." "Cer- 
tainly," said he, and emptying one 
of my hands into the other, I dragged it 
ijito his room, came out, closed the door 
and bade him "good evening," just as 
my relief entered the outer room. The 
next night when I came on guard again, 
the prisoner was standing at the grating 
looking out, pipe in hand, and said after 
greeting, "I have your chair here." "Oh, 
yes !" said I, looking over my shoulder 
into my room, "but I see Jolin has 
brought up another, just keep it, won't 
you, until I want it." y 

Mr. Davis made no reply, but he gave ' 
me a look that Avill remain in my mem- 
ory, as a ray of sunshine. He had seen 
viirough my little ruse. 

After Mr. Davis was given the parole 
of the fort, all was changed for him, as 
well as for us of the garrison. We offi- 
cers then got more tlian "one night in 
bed," as the soldiers say, and the duty 
vv'as not so hard. 

Mrs. Davis joined lier husband and 
they were assigned a set of officers' 
(juarters, which by the way, included his 
old "prison cell," and they lived like 
"white folk." With Mrs. Davis came 
their little daughter ("Pi"' we called her 
then), now "Miss Winnie," or the "Daugh- 
ter of the Confederacy," as she is some- 
times spoken of. With them also for a 
time was Mrs. Davis' sister. Miss Mag- 
gie Howell, all of Avliom made a sunny 
addition to the social life of the garrison 
in a quiet and becoming way, and they 
changed the atmosphere for Mr. Davis 
in many respects. 

I could fill a volume of reminiscences 
and incidents connected with our invol- 
untary intimacy during Mr. Davis' im- 
prisonment, at Fort Monroe, but I will 
mention only one more in closing this 
letter. Mr. Davis had a grim sense of 
the humorous under all circumstances. 
On one occasion Doctor Craven, who had 
been the post surgeon and attended Mr. 



SCKAP-BOOlv. 



121 



Davis during his severe illness in the 
casemates, came back to Fort Monroe 
on a visit, and called upon the prisoner 
in his cell. In the course of conversa- 
tion tlie doctor said, '"Do you know, Mr. 



Davis, that at one time, over there in the 
casemate, I reall}- thought you were go- 
ing to die?" 

"Ah, doctor," said Mr. Davis, "that is 
tlie last thing I am going to do.^' 



UNCLE" GUY NEARING 



A Remarkable Man — His Athletic Build and 

Strength — Interesting Incidents 

in His Life 



I^^' the Sentinel of December 20, 1883, 
Mr, Evers gave an extended account 
of "Uncle" Guy Xearing, as he was 
called by the early settlers, and "Nawash" 
by the Indians, from which we clip the 
following : 

Guy Xearing in his early manhood 
came to the Maumee country from 
Cayuga county, X. Y. The date was 
about the year 181*, and he first located 
on what is now the Forest Pratt place, 
Perrysburg. Xearing was a remarkable 
man in many respects, and is better re- 
membered and oftencr and more kindly 
spoken of by the early settlers than any 
one wlio lived on the Maumee. 

In ])bysic!il make up he was a num 
of almost gigantic stature and strength; 
broad shouldered and l)()ny : be scarcely 
knew his own strength, and his power 
of endurance was something wonderful. 
He was a sort of local Hercules of that 
day, and a terror to the Indians, great 
and small. His qualities of head and 
heart were no less marked than his phy- 
sical powers. He inherently loved and 
trusted his fellow men. He had great 
big bumps of generosity, and benevo- 
lence. He always had a cheering word 
for tbc despondent and friendless, and 
would divide his last piece of corn bread 
witb tbe needy. 

It is not denied bv his manv friends 



that he possessed a ''rough side," and 
was given sometimes to fearful ebullitions 
of temper, and startling profanity, nor 
tluit he was averse occasionally to having 
a good time, when, more than at any 
other time he prided himself on his ath- 
letic powers, and feats of great strength. 

At a Circus 

One day he was in Pcrryslnirg after 
it had become quite a village, attending 
a circus, an event he never missed if he 
heard of it in time. He was leaning 
against the cage in which was a large 
zebra and the keeper cautioned the spec- 
tators lest the animal which was vicious, 
should kick some of them. In an instant 
Uncle Guy thrust his hand into the cage 
and seized the zebra's hind leg which he 
} lulled out between the bars and held 
with one hand in spite of the animal's 
wild struggles. Guy would have done 
the same with a young lion only that 
the keeper prevented him. 

Cut His Toe Off 

Though rather slow to anger he was 
like most of that kind of persons very 
wrathy when he did get warmed up. It 
is told'of him that the little toe on one 
of his feet had a habit of getting on top 
of the next toe and the friction of the 
boot kept it constantly sore. In a fit of 
anger one day he jerked off his boot, 
seized a chisel and mallet and off went 
the offending tor. to 1i-oubb^ him no 
more. 

Always Kind to All 

Still with all his eccentricities and 
faults, be was, as before mentioned, a 



122 



THE PIONEER 



kind-hearted sympathetic man. If a 
stranger moving in, needed help to get 
his wagon out of the mud, Guy would 
take his team and assist him without pay 
or thanks. If a newcomer wanted to find 
land for a home, Guy would leave his 
own afEairs and go with him, board him 
besides, accepting no compensation, es- 
pecially from the poor. If the pioneer 
needed help to raise his log cabin, Guy 
would take his men and go and help him. 
Anything he had or could do was always 
at the command of a needy neighbor or 
stranger. Such a man was "Uncle" Guy 
ISTearing. He was fitted by all his phy- 
sical and mental qualities for a leading 
and useful man amid the rugged vicissi- 
tudes incident to pioneer life, and well 
he filled the bill. 

Two years after ISTearing came, his 
family followed, wife and three children. 
There were two sons and a daughter. 
Minerva afterward married Wm. Ewing. 
Neptune Nearing, one of the sons, father 
of G. C. Nearing, now of Bowling Green, 
settled at an early day on the ridge and 
prairie three miles west of Bowling 
Green, or where the town now is. 

Another son, Henry, who is well known 
and respected in the north part of the 
county, and who in stature and appear- 
ance, much resembles his father, lives 
now near White House, Lucas county. 

Thrashed an Indian 

Here is an incident by Henry Nearing, 
explaining why his father, "Uncle'' Guy, 
was called "Big Nawash.'' 

Nearing's cabin was on the route fol- 
lowed by the Indians in passing up and 
down the river. The red men, while un- 
usually quite peaceful, got fire water 
down at Hollister's trading post some- 
times and some of the bucks were a trifle 
ugly. A big buck of some prowess and 
athletic pretensions who frequently, when 
tipsy, would boast of blood-thirsty deeds 
he had perpetrated on white men at the 
massacre at Eiver Raisin, one day entered 



Nearing's cabin where he saw no one 
in the room but a couple of women, and 
drew his hunting knife and began to talk 
Indian and make murderous flourishes. 
The women were terrified, as the old 
buck had a satanic gleam in his eye which 
was threatening to behold. They con- 
cealed their terror as well as they could 
until one of them on some pretext slipped 
out and told "Uncle" Guy, who was mak- 
ing an ax handle in a shed near by. Guy 
was angry in a minute, and seizing a big 
Mack whip, he went round to the door 
and pulled the buck out, and between 
the sounds of the terrific blows of the 
whip on old Nawash's breech clout and 
his hideous screams, there was a small 
bedlam there for a little while. An ac- 
count of the incident soon went up and 
down the river and reached the other In- 
dians. This buck was a sort of revenge- 
ful fellow and some of Guy's neighbors 
did not know but he might try to retal- 
iate, but he was too much humilated, and 
in a day or so came back and shook hands 
with Uncle Guy and said, "Me bad Injun ! 
me good now." Pointing to Nearing he 
said "You big Nawash." After that 
Nearing was nicknamed "Big Nawash," 
and quarrelsome Indian Inicks never 
troubled his family again. 

Contractor and Builder 

In the latter part of 1825 Nearing 
took a contract to build five miles of 
the Maumee and Western Reserve pike, 
which he did not complete till 1827, and 
at about the same time he took five miles 
of the Maumee and Monroe pike. 

In 1823 when the county seat was 
moved from Maumee to Perrysburg, 
there was not much to move except the 
little log calaboose. This, Nearing 
haided over for which, and the rebuild- 
ing, he received $45. 

In 1824 he helped to build for Wood 
county its first court house, a little log 
structure located on Front street, Perrys- 
burg, but torn down some years ago. In 



SCKAP-BOOK. 



133 



1826 and '27, he and Elisha Martindale 
built a new log jail near the court house 
and took their pay in part, in town lots 
at $12 apiece. 

On Christmas day 1829, Uncle Guy 
with his men and teams, went to Bear 
Eapids, since called Otsego, and built 
a cabin on the hill, to board and lodge 
his help in. He had previously bought 
GO acres of land there, of the Mason 
estate. Stickney had also built a cabin 
near there, to prospect for free stone, 
and expected to open a grind stone 
quarry. 

Built a Mill 

By New Near's day, 1830, all was in 
readiness, and next day all hands began 
work on timber for a dam. The winter 
was mild and dry, and the river low. By 
May Xearing had a dam in, and a saw 
mill in operation, and by the middle of 
June a grist mill with one run of stone, 



and by September a second run of stone 
with bolting facilities. This was a great 
help and convenience to the pioneers, 
and people patronized the mill from a 
distance of 20 to 30 miles. I^earing 
owned the mill until the spring of 1833, 
when he sold it to a New Yorker named 
Asa Gilbert, and the mill went by the 
name of Gilbert's mill. Later Gilbert 
sold to a man named Flanders, who lost 
the mill by a gi'eat freshet. Flanders re- 
built it and a little later the mill passed 
into the hands of Samuel Clymer, who 
owned it until the freshets finally de- 
stroyed both mill and dam and it was 
never rebuilt. The old mill, the build- 
ers, and owners have all passed away and 
the town of Otsego, a name once familiar 
to all the early settlers, is a thing of the 
past and exists like many of the noble 
race of hardy men and women of that 
early day only in memory. 



WORST OF ALL ROADS" 



Graphic Description of the Maumee and 
Western Reserve Road 



AGEEEABLE to the treaty of Browns- 
town in 1808, the Indian tribes 
ceded a tract of land for a road 120 
feet wide from the foot of the Maumee 
Rapids to the western line of the Con- 
necticut Eeserve, and all the land within 
one mile of said road on each side thereof 
for the purpose of establishing settle- 
ments along the same. By an act of 
Congress December 11, 1811, the Presi- 
dent was authorized to appoint three 
commissioners to survey and mark the 
road. It seems this work was not satis- 
factory. Hence Congress passed an act 



on April 16, 1816, authorizing the Presi- 
dent to make such alteration in the survey 
as he may deem proper. 

Nothing, however, seemed to have 
been done, for February 28, 1823, Con- 
gress passed an act granting to the State 
of Ohio all the land for this purpose ob- 
tained by the treaty of Brownstown. By 
an act of the Legislature, the State of 
Ohio accepted the grant made to her by 
the last recited act of Congress, and at 
once set about building the road. 

In locating this road it was so laid out 
as to pass through Perrysburg and Lower 
Sandusky. The contracts were let and 
work commenced in the year 1824, but 
the road was not completed until the 
year 1826, if, indeed, such a road could 
be called completed, but such as it was, 
it was accepted and for years served as 
the thoroughfare over which the 



124 



THE PIONEER 



thousands in search of a paradise in the 
West, . were obliged to travel the almost 
impassable Black Swamp. 

It would be difficult to describe this 
"worst of all roads, and the agony border- 
ing on despair to which the emigrant was 
reduced in his etfort to pass over to the 
land flowing with milk and honey beyond. 
It is said, nature is equal to all emer- 
gencies, and it proved so here. On the 
desert the caravan may stop at any point 
and pitch their tents, but travelers wad- 
ing all day in mud and water, require a 
place of rest for the night, where they 
can dry as well as rest their weary limbs. 
On the route of this road, their wants 



in this respect were Avell supplied, for 
there was a tavern to each mile of the 
distance between Perrysburg and Lower 
Sandusky, and travelers were sometimes 
compelled to stay two nights at the same 
tavern, notwithstanding the most vigor- 
ous efforts to proceed. Things remained 
in this situation until the year 1838 when 
the state commenced to macadamize the 
road, which was completed in the year 
1841, and from that time to the present 
has been one of the best roads in Ohio. 
From this period the real prosperity of 
Wood county began, and was materially 
aided by the completion of the Wabash 
and Erie Canal a few years later. 



LAKE COMMERCE 



An Extensive Commercial Traffic Carried on 
at Perrysburg at an Early Date 



BETWEEN the years 1838 and 1810 
there was transacted at Perrysburg 
as large a commercial business as any 
port on Lake Erie, excepting Buffalo 
and Cleveland. This business was trans- 
acted chiefly through the forwarding 
and commission houses of Hollister & 
Smith, and Bingham & Co. Through 
these houses nearly all the goods con- 
signed to Northern Indiana, and a large 
portion of Northwestern Ohio, and South- 
ern Michigan were forwarded by teams 
from Perrysburg, to the head of the 
rapids of the Maumee river, where they 
M^ere taken on keel boats, pirogues and 
flat boats, and transported to Fort Wayne, 
and thence distributed to their several 
destinations. These boats returning 
brought back furs, skins and dried meats, 
Avhich were brought to Perrysburg by the 
teams which had carried goods to the 
head of the rapids. From 1835 to 1840, 
tliis Inisiness, together with the emigration 



wliicli came to this port by water, afford- 
ed a very lucrative business for nearly 
all the schooners and steamboats in the 
service. 

There were between the above dates 
steam boats enough running from Perrys- 
Ijurg to Buffalo, to form a daily line had 
they been so arranged, besides many 
schooners, as the steamers could not carry 
all the freight offering for this port. In 
addition to the above, there was a daily 
line of steam boats running between 
Perrysburg and Detroit. It may be 
asked, what has become of this commerce ? 
The answer is, it still exists, but the 
headquarters have been removed, and 
other modes of transit have driven the 
steam boats and vessels from the river. 



The last siege of Ft. Meigs lasted about 
eight days and was most obstinately re- 
sisted by Gen. Clay. The siege was 
finally abandoned liy Gen. Proctor after 
300 men and officers had been killed and 
wounded. No less than six wagon loads 
of balls and iinexploded shells were 
picked up and utilized by the Americans. 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



135 



AN AMUSING INCIDENT 



John C. Spink's First Introduction to This 
Region— His "Maiden" Speech 



THE late ^". H. Callard i'urnishes the 
following incident of an early date : 

Among the earliest lawyers residing in 
Wood county may be named John C. 
Spink and Willard V. Way. The latter 
mentions in his notes a ludicrous in- 
cident that occurred to Spink when on 
his way from Wooster to Perrysburg to 
commence the practice of law. As show- 
ing the condition of travel through the 
Black Swamp, and its inconveniences of 
transit it is worthy of note. It was on 
this occasion that he made liis first or 
maiden speech as a lawyer. 

Spink was on his way in company with 
a young preacher, who like himself, had 
left his home for the first time. He stated 
that the roads were simply terrible, being 
like a sea of mud and water. At that 
time many immigrants were moving from 
the eastern parts of Ohio to places further 
west. It was frequently the case that 
they could not advance with their wagons 
more than two or three miles a day, and 
they would return at night to the same 
tavern they had left in the morning. 
Spink and the preacher had left what is 
now Fremont in the morning and reached 
a small log tavern at Sugar Creek a few 
miles west late in the evening. They 
found the house crowded with moving 
families, with apparently no room for 
them to find a bed. At that time there 
were only two beds in the house. They 
could not well return neither could they 
advance with the chance of getting better 
accommodation, as they would have to 
flounder in the mud. The landlord, 
however, was equal to the emergency. 
He did not want to lose two guests so 
prominent as the lawyer and the preacher 
and assured them that he would give 



them a good bed. They took their sup- 
per and on getting into the sitting room 
found that the movers had all disappear- 
ed. How this had been done they could 
not tell. That, however, was soon re- 
vealed. They were shown to the only 
spare bed in the house which was located 
on the off side from the door, and ihey 
discovered there were ten females and four 
males extended on the floor covered by 
tlieir own bed cbithes, he and the 
preacher making tlie number sixteen in 
what was but a small room. They picked 
their way through the sleepers as best 
they could, when getting to the bed side 
they found just light enough from 
the burning wood in the fire place op- 
jwsite them as to show everything in the 
room. It appeared to them as if all eyes 
were upon them, and they were at a loss 
to know how they could get into bed. 
The preacher suggested to Spink that he 
would take off his coat and that he Spink 
should hold it as a screen between them 
and the floor occupants. That was 
speedily done, the preacher jumped into 
bed on the off side and covered himself 
up, and left Spink in the lurch. This 
took him by surprise — he was at a loss 
what to do. He could not go to bed 
with his clothes on him as they were wet 
and covered with mud. He concluded 
that as a lawyer he should have to make 
his living by his wits, and he might as 
well begin then and there as at any 
time, and make a speech, yes, a maiden 
speech, supposing that they were as wide 
awake as himself. His speech was brief 
and to the point, he said: 

"Ladies, this is my bed, and there is 
nothing to screen me from your obser- 
vation while I get into it. This is my 
first introduction to a new country life, 
and probably it is yours, as you appear 
to be moving, I will therefore take it as 
a great favor if you will kindly duck 
your heads under the clothes while I get 
into bed." All heads were instantly 
covered, he got into bed and concluded 



12G 



THE PIONEER 



that he had made a great fool of himself, 
for they were all of them asleep, and he 
had waked them up by his speech. This 
he over after det-lared to bo his maiden 
speech as a lawyer. 

Mr. Spink was highly successful as a 



criminal lawyer, his reputation extend- 
ing throughout the northwest. The late 
James Murray of Sidney, Ex-Attorney 
General of Ohio, was a student at law 
with him. Spink died in 1853, in the 
zenith of his fame. 



RECOVERING A STOLEN HORSE 

THE following incident is related by 
Gen. John E. Hunt : 

In July, 1812, my brother bought a 
very fine horse, which had been driven 
with the army from Dayton. It was a 
large, elegant dapple grey, and he rode it 
acting as the aid of Gen. Hull at the sur- 
render. Soon after the British took the 
town the Indians stole the horse, saddle 
and bridle from my brother's stable. He 
weait to the store next morning looking 
very much down at the loss of his fine 
horse. There he met Jack Brandy. 
Jake says, "Harry Hunt, what's the mat- 
ter with you? You have a very long 
face this morning." Says my brother: 
"Jack, the Indians have stolen my big 
horse!" Jack savs: "Dam rascal! 
Maybe me find liim. Give me some 
money, some meat and some bread." My 
brother gave him $5 in silver and what 
else he wanted. Jack mounted his pony 
and started up the Eiver Eouge. 

The next day he crossed an Indian 



trail, and discovered that one of their 
horses had large iron shoes. He followed 
the track and that evening camped with 
the party. After eating, they wanted to 
know where he was going. He said he 
was directed to go to Chicago to call the 
Indians in to fight the Long Knives. 
They told him they had a very fine Ameri- 
can horse. Jack says, "My horse is tired. 
If he is a good horse maybe in the morn- 
ing me swap with you," and added, shak- 
ing his silver in his pouch, "and give 
some boot." In the morning, after an 
early breakfast. Jack told them to put 
the saddle and bridle on the horse. "Well 
me try him, see if he is a good horse." 
He mounted, and it was the last they saw 
of Jack or the horse. We were standing 
in front of my brother's store about sun- 
down the next day, when we saw an 
Indian coming up the road on horseback. 
It proved to be Jack on my brother's grey 
horse. When he jumped off and delivered 
him to my brother, he said, "Harry Hunt, 
you see now, Jack Brandy can't lie." 



LIBERTY TOWNSHIP 



Settlement Begun in 1824 Collister Haskins 

First Settler Organization of 

Township 



THE first white settler in what is now 
Liberty township was Collister Has- 
kins, in the spring of 1824. In the fol- 
lowing September, with the help of kind 
Indians and friends from Waterville, he 



built a log cabin on the west side of the 
established route of the Findlay pike and 
on the south bank of the Portage river, 
and moved in with his family, who had 
resided in Waterville. 

Let the mind of the reader imagine 
Wood county one vast unbroken forest of 
virgin timber, without a white inhabitant 
( except as their cabins now and then dot- 
ted tlie bank of the Maumee river), the 
stillness of which was only marred by the 
presence of the red man who built his 



SC]L\.P-BOOK. 



127 



canij) lire unmolested, and where the wolf, 
deer, bear and other animals roamed in 
their natural state; a wilderness impene- 
trated by a single well defined road; a 
wilderness containing 390,000 acres, in 
the center of which is one solitary cabin, 
with none other nearer on the north than 
Waterville, thirteen miles distant, and 
none on the south nearer than Fort Find- 
lay, "twenty miles away," and they have 
the home of CoUister Haskins in 1834. 
And oft* was the time of an evening, 
when this solitary white man of the in- 
terior, with his little family, would be 
gathered about his cal)in lire that the 
Indians would congregate about him and 
curiously survey his surroundings and as 
they became more familiar, converse as 
best they could upon topics of mutual 
interest. In Mr. Haskins' family besides 
himself and wii'e, were thi-e;' daughters, 
Sarah, Wealthy and Cynthia, and one 
son, Henry. Sarah was the first white 
cliild born in Liberty township. 

The next settler, or rather squatter, in 
Ijiberty was J. M. Jacques, who came 
f j'om New York and built a cabin. 

Jacques only remained about three 
years, for in the spring of 1833 John 
Sargent moved in from Eoss county and 
entered the land upon which Jacques had 
located, paid him for his improvements 
and moved into the cabin he (Jacques) 
had built. In Mr. Sargent's family were 
three sons and two daughters. 

The Mercers 

The next settler in Liberty was Geo. 
Mercer, the first of the large Mercer set- 
tlement in that township, to locate there, 
who came from New Lisbon, also in the 
spring of 1833, and entered the land upon 
which he made his home. He came with 
two yoke of oxen and a wagon by the way 
of Woodville, making the trip of 200 
miles from New Lisbon in 11 days. From 
Woodville he came up the Portage river 
on a road cut through a few days previous 
by Adam Phillips, who settled in Portage 



township, and the next day cut a road 
from there to Mr. Haskins', making the 
trip from Woodville in two days. His 
family stayed at Mr. Haskins' and he im- 
mediately set to work with the assistance 
of Peter Johnson and Adam Phillips of 
Portage township, and Mr. Haskins, and 
soon had a pole cabin built on his own 
land and moved in with his family. The 
same spring he "'broke up" 15 acres of 
prairie land belonging to Mr. Haskins 
and planted it to corn; using five stout 
yoke of oxen and a big old-fashioned 
wooden plow to break up the prairie and 
says he raised about half a crop. He 
raised a family of nine children. 

The advent of new settlers into this 
community was now not so infrequent 
and on the first day of April, 1834, there 
were eight families in Liberty, as follows : 
CoUister Haskins, John Sargent, Thos. 
Cox, Geo. Mercer, Caleb Mercer, Horace 
Cady, Henry Groves, John Groves and 
James Birdsell, and late in the same year 
came Henry Dubbs, John McMahan, 
Joseph Mitchell, Wm. Mercer and John 
Mercer. Wm. Mercer was the head and 
father of the Mercer family, which settle- 
nient in Liberty numbers nearly 200. 

Liberty Township Organized 

A sufficient number of settlers having 
moved in, a petition was presented to the 
commissioners on March 20. IS:)."), lor the 
organization of a township, to be called 
Liberty. The petition was granted and 
the first township election held on the 
first Monday in April, 1835, which re- 
sulted in the election of the following 
officers : Trustees, James Birdsc4l Henry 
Groves and Geo. Ellsworth ; clerk, Eeuben 
Strait; treasurer, Hugh Arbuckle; Jus- 
tices of the peace, James Birdsell and 
John Groves. The poll books of this 
election contains the names of 22 elec- 
tors. 

Their choice for treasurer proved to be 
an injudicious one. He was a native of 
Scotland, a fine scholar and apparently a 



128 



THE PIONEER 



gentleman. He was in the stock business 
in company with a Messrs Eeed & Bishop 
of Urbana. During the year he was 
serving the township as treasurer, he sold 
a quantity of the partnership stock, pock- 
eted the money and "migrated." At the 
time he left he also took $28.00 of the 
township funds, fortunately all there was 



in the treasury at that time. Mr. John 
McMahan and Henry Dubbs were his 
l)ondsmon and jointly made up the same 
to the townsliip, but not without some 
pointed remarks about the defaulter. 
John Sargent was elected his successor 
the spring following and held the office 
I'or twenty rears. — C. W. E. 



ORGANIZATION OF OHIO 

PUESUANT to a proclamation of the 
Territorial Governor, members of a 
constitutional convention assembled at 
Chillicothe, November 1, 1802, and dur- 
ing this session of 29 days formed the 
first constitution of the state of Ohio as 
the state was named. 

The state government was organized 
under the constitution so formed on 
March 3, 1803. 

The Bill of Rights, which is a part of 
the constitution, includes, among other 
things, substantially the provisions of the 
ordinance of 1787; but to two provisions 
of this Bill of Rights particular attention 
is called, viz, to sections 25 and 26. 

The first, section 25 provides, "That no 
law shall be passed to prevent the poor, in 
the several counties and townships within 
the state, from an equal participation in 
the schools, academies, colleges and uni- 
versities within this state, which are en- 
dowed, in whole or in part from the 



revenue arising from donations made by 
the United States, for the support of 
schools and colleges; and the doors of the 
said schools, academies and universities 
shall be open for the reception of scholars, 
students and teachers of every grade, 
without any distinction or preference 
whatever, contrary to the intent for 
which said donations were made." 

The second, section 2G, provides, "That 
laws shall be passed by the legislature 
which shall secure to each and every de- 
nomination of religious societies, in each 
surveyed townsliip, which is now or may 
hereafter be formed in the state, an equal 
participation, according to their number 
of adherents, of the profits arising from 
the land granted by congress for the sup- 
port of religion, agreeable to the ordin- 
ance or act of congress making the appro- 
priation." 

It will thus be seen these are the 
fundamental jirinciples on which the 
northwest territory, and tlio state of Ohio 
liave been established. 



AS TO HULL'S TRACE 

IN a recent number of the Sentinel, a 
pioneer makes the following correc- 
tion regarding Hull's trace: 

Hull's trace in Portage after crossing 
the stream, turned its course west of 
north, passing through the village of Por- 
tage near the old ashery, M. E. church 
and Quaintances' lime kiln, passing north 
on tlio limestone ridge, crossing the east 



]iart of the farm owned by Noah Foltz, 
also the premises of Jas. Taborn (de- 
ceased), whieli was the original Parshall 
lot. Parshall had a large family, all girls. 
These young women and their parents 
had been living in their log cabin near 
tlie northwest corner of Portage township. 
One day, while Sarah was taking a stroll 
east of their cabin, she walked out on a 
fallen tree in the top of which she found 
a load of muskets. The news soon spread 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



129 



that "Sail" Parshall had found 40 mus- 
kets. (Quite a prize, over $200 worth if 
they had not been damaged.) Hull's 
trail here crossed through the point of 
timber between the Little Prairie and 
another that lay in the southwest corner 
of Center township, passing close to the 
west of the original John Taborn cabin 
across the original Thomas Rigly lot, and 
so on towards the Pernot farm. The 



loss of the army trail near the Haskins 
saw mill, and the mistake made by S. B. 
Aljbott and others, was the mistaking 
our pioneer trail down stream past the 
"Aborginal Grave Yard" for Hull's trace. 
The same is true of the pioneer trail or 
road made by John Gallatin and others 
across the east end of the Sizer farm, a 
branch pioneer road into that of Hull's 
army road. 



THE LOST CHILD 



An Agonizing Search by Hundreds for a 

Little Tot Alone in the Woods 

for Eleven Days 



AN old pioneer gives, in the Weston 
Avalanche, the following some- 
what sensational account of the search 
for a lost child in the wilds of Wood 
county, seventy-five years ago: 

The child was that of Frederick Frank- 
fauder, who lived in Bloom township, in 
this county. In the year 1835, some 
time in the month of November of that 
year, on Sunday (as was their custom), 
Mr. Frankfauder and wife went to their 
place of worship, and did not return 
home until late in the evening. During 
their absence the children were gathering 
hickory nuts, under a tree standing in the 
fence corner close by the woods. There 
were a number of children on both sides 
of the fence, and the little girl, five years 
and six months old, was with them gath- 
ering nuts, and probably on the side of 
the fence next to the woods. The chil- 
dren did not miss her until the parents 
came home at night. You can imagine 
the feelings of that family when they 
found that little Margaret was truly lost, 
night on hand and very dark. They 
sent to the nearest neighbors for help in 



the hunt. They started with torches in 
hand and calling her by name, and ring- 
ing bells, but all without success. 

Then they sent word to Ft. Ball, Tiilin, 
Findlay and Perry sburg, to the search. 
They came with their teams, feed and 
provisions, to assist. The company so 
engaged, numbered about two hundred 
and fifty persons. About the third day 
they found tracks north of Woodbury, 
crossing Hull's trail, that they knew to 
be her tracks certainly, as a little dog 
was with her, and they saw his tracks 
also. 

Then the excitement grew intense; 
they continued the search west and north 
of the windfall, and bordering on the 
prairie, but found no sign of her, till the 
seventh day, when they found tracks in 
the windfall south of John McMahan's. 
There she lost her little dog, she after- 
wards said, "as I lay by a fire I saw a 
big dog come and they took Penny and 
killed him." They were wolves. Then 
all began to despair but the parents. 
Some left for home while others con- 
tinued the search. 

Reader, pause and think ! How must 
the parents have felt, when all began to 
despair; when a fruitless search was kept 
up for eight or ten days, when all gave up 
in despair, but a praying father, who said 
that his trust was in the Lord; that He 
would restore the child to his arms in 
answer to his unceasing prayers. What 



130 



THE PIOXEEK 



hope was there? The chikl gone ten 
days, in a wilderness like the Black 
Swamp forty years ago, plenty of In- 
dians, bears, and wolves; and the worst 
of all, the wild hog. 

On the eleventh day they sent a man 
around by Portage, up the Ellsworth 
ridge, then to Hutchinson's in Milton, 
and to Major McMillen's. Just before 
he arrived, Orlando McMillen and Sam- 
uel Clark got home from hunting cattle, 
and McMillen asked his mother if Indian 
children had blue eyes; she said, "jSTo, 
why do you ask?'' He said that he and 
Mr. Clark had seen one that had blue 
eyes, and they gave it a biscuit, and it 
ate it greedily. They thought it an 
Indian child, as they could not under- 
stand her language. I will just say she 
was German, and did not understand 
English. 

This report of the lost child explained 
the whole matter to them. Mr. G. 
Alberty and Mr. McMillen started at 
once in pursuit of the child, over to John 
Dubbs'. There they saw a man by the 
name of Henderson Carrothers, who was 
chopping in a clearing for Dubbs; he 



said that he saw a child playing on a log, 
on the north side of the clearing, an hour 
or so ago, Ijut thought that it was an 
Indian chikl. So they all went to look 
after the child and in a few minutes they 
found her in the woods on the north side 
of the clearing, and they soon saw that 
she was the long lost child, as she had 
deep blue eyes. 

You can imagine the joy and rejoicing 
when they found her; they took her to 
Mr. Dubbs' and sent word at once to her 
bereaved parents, who got word in the 
fore part of the night. You can't 
imagine how the parents and friends 
passed that night, as there was joy mixed 
with doubt. Before daylight Mr. Mahlon 
Whitaker and Mr. Frankfauder were 
plunging through the woods to Mr. 
Dubbs'. They made the distance in 
double quick time, and found the child 
all right, but quite wild and strange. 

The little one had wandered 14 miles 
for 11 days amid the terrors of the Black 
Swamp. That child lived to be a 
woman, was married and passed away 
some years ago. 



JIM SLATER'S CURSE 



Is There an Avenging Nemesis Hanging Over 

Bairdstown on Account of the Curse 

of a Ruined Man? 



THE following weird, uncanny inci- 
dent came in the experience of Mr. 
C. W. Evers, during his term of sheriff 
in the later sixties, when the county seat 
was at Perrysburg. The raving agony 
of Slater, crazed with his losses, his bit- 
terness in being ruined by a crime of 
which he was undoubtedly innocent, to- 
gether with the curse he pronounced upon 
the place and all connected with his 



downfall — these are the facts. The retri- 
bution that followed those connected with 
Slater's persecution and the calamitous 
incidents that have attached to the 
vicinity of Bairdstown, so strikingly de- 
scribed by the facile pen of Mr. Evers, 
strongly reminds one of Hamlet, when 
he says : 

'"There are more things in heaven and 

earth, Horatio, 
Than are dreampt of in your philosophy." 

"Say, my boy," said an ex-sheriff to 
a reporter some years ago, "do you be- 
lieve in retribution through Providential 
agency here on this earth, for sins done 
by the sons of Adam? If you do, pos- 



Sl'KAl'-BOOK. 



i;!i 



sibly 1 can give you a partial solution to 
the serious misfortunes of our neighbors 
at Bairdstown." 

"Explain and we'll see,"' said the 
scribe. 

"Well, these late calamities to the town 
and the mystery of their origin has set 
me to thinking of the place when there 
was no town there; and if one was in- 
clined to be superstitious it would not be 
very difficult to believe that evil spirits 
come back from the dominions of the 
dead and curse the haunts of living men 
Avith deeds of vengeance." 

But I'll give you the story as I recall 
it, and you may draw your own con- 
clusions. 

xVway back al)out the close of the war 
with Mexico, the quarter section of land 
where Bairdstown is, was owned by an 
old man named 

Jim Slater 

Old .lim was not considered very 
bright, or rather, some of his neighbors 
doubted at times if his mind — reason — 
was rightly balanced. He was rough and 
uncouth in manner, inclined to be irrit- 
able and violent, when ho imagined he 
was being imposed upon ; but with his 
family, worked hard, and lived poorly. 
In this uphill struggle, his wife, who was 
an estimable woman, far above Slater, 
sickened and died. Soon after this 
Slater's misfortunes began. William 
McMurray, a neighbor, put in a piece of 
wheat on Slater's land on shares. At 
harvesting. Slater objected to the grain 
being hauled off the farm for threshing. 
A sharp war of words and much feeling 
grew out of this trivial affair. Slater in 
his ungovernable anger, swore that the 
wheat would never do his neighbor any 
good. Possibly he took the case into 
justice court. I believe he did, and got 
non-suited or beaten. 

So the matter rested until some weeks 
later, when one night the wheat stacks 
were burned, and a new harness and 



some other articles were stolen from j\lc- 
Murray's or D. Wineland's barn, near by. 

Slater, who Avas not a favorite among 
his neighbors, was of course set upon at 
once among the gossips, as the instigator, 
if not the direct agent in burning the 
stacks; all because of the constructive 
threat made. No other evidences coukl 
be found against him except that assi'r- 
tion, made in anger; and on this slender 
tliread and a good deal of prejudice, he 
was arrested, and tried before a justice, 
and I believe bound over to court. 
David Hays of Fostoria, who made some 
pretensions to a slight acquaintance with 
Blackstone, pettifoggetl Slater's case. 

At the next term of common ])leas 
court, Slater was indicted; the late 
George Strain being the prosecuting at- 
torney. After heavy expense in lawyer 
fees and other ways, Slater was acquitted. 
J^avid Hays and Dodge & Tyler defend- 
ed his case. 

Public sentiment was divided as to 
Slater's guilt, and strangely too, McMur- 
ray, who with Slater was the loser by the 
iire, did not believe Slater guilty, though 
at a loss to explain the origin of the fire, 
which was clearly the work of an incen- 
diary. This prosecution, or persecution 
as Slater termed it, was the cause of his 
ruin. The lawyers got notes, secured by 
mortgages on his farm, and an old cred- 
itor in Tiffin, with a mortgage of four or 
iive hundred dollars, got uneasy and 
Ijegan proceedings of foreclosure. This 
scared small creditors and they began a 
crusade in justice court against the un- 
fortunate man, probably on the old rule, 
•'kick a man when he's down.'' Slater 
tried to fight them off. He was com- 
bative and Hays, his lawyer, was a 
ready servant to help him, but alas! in 
deeper, in nearly every instance. At last 
and not long either, the evil day came 
and the sheriff with an order of sale in 
which were marshaled all the liens, came 
with appraisers to value the property. I 
can see Slater yet as he sat on a log near 



13 



THE PIONEER 



his cabin, sullen and dispirited while the 
appraisers near by were trying to fix upon 
a value. He scarcely spoke during the 
time we were there. He asked if he 
could take off the gi'owing crops. He 
said he had not slept nights because of 
this trouble and the only liope he had was 
that none of the neighbors would bid on 
the farm when it was offered. 

The day of sale came. There was 
only one buyer. John Baird, a prosper- 
ous farmer, living some two miles from 
Slater's, bid in the land. 

A day or so after the sale, as I sat at 
the office table writing (this was while 
the court house was in Perrysburg) I 
heard a shuffling step at the door, at my 
back. I turned my head and said "Good 
morning, Mr. Slater!" for it was he. 
He said nothing, but silently took a chair 
near the table. After a little he said, 
"Sheriff, did my place sell?" "Yes." 
"Who bought it?" I told him. He said, 
"I heard so, and came clear here to see 
if it was true." He dropped his head 
on his arm on the table and trembled as 
,.tJiough suffering agonizing bodily pain. 
■lie did not speak for many minutes. I 
felt so much moved by his distress that 
1 could scarcely go on with my work. I 
had from the first believed him innocent 
of the crime which l^rought this trouble 
on him. I had had little experience in 
detecting criminals, but from the first I 
felt that Slater was the unfortunate vic- 
tim of circumstances which almost com- 
pletely screened the real perpetrator of 
the crime, whoever it might be. 

After his agitation had subsided a 
little, I told him there was yet time to 
save his place — that he should not give 
it up so — that he could probably borrow 
money to cancel the judgment liens and 
secure the lender by a mortgage on the 
land as soon as the liens were off.- That 
if these liens were paid before the first 
day of court, the judge would not con- 
firm the sale. 

"No! No!" he said, "I cannot do it; 



I have no friends. All are down on me. 
No one has a good word for me; even my 
lawyer is against me; I am robbed of my 
place and driven from my home. There 
is no law, divine or human, that will 
justify this robbery. If there is a just 
God, he will curse the place to the last 
end of eternity as a warning. That farm 
will never do John Baird any good. Me 
has been against me. He wanted my 
place; he has got it, and the curse of a 
wronged man goes with the place and all 
who have had a hand in robbing me." 

I do not pretend to give Slater's exact 
words, nor could I possibly give even a 
faint expression of his intense agitation, 
bitterness and despair. Words of encour- 
agement or kindness were alike useless. 
The fires of hope and ambition were 
quenched — drowned forever in his breast. 

James Slater died a pauper. He lies 
buried at the infirmary. 

On his old farm is Bairdstown. When 
the B. & 0. railroad located its line 
through there, John Baird with the enter- 
prise .characteristic of himself, laid out 
a town and beside giving it his name, 
promoted the growth with all his energy. 
He built a fine flouring mill, hotel, etc., 
and the town grew rapidly. 

About this time misfortunes, one after 
another began to stop at Baird's door. 
His downward career, as did Slater's and 
as do most men's, commenced in litiga- 
tion. Law suit after law suit harrassed 
him. Creditors pressed him from every 
side. Judgments and executions dis- 
turbed his sleep until he did not know 
which way to turn. One or two of his 
sons became imsteady in habits, being a 
hindrance instead of a help to the father 
in his troubles. Next in the line of bad 
luck his fine mill burned, attributed at 
the time to incendiarism, the first I be- 
lieve in that line of calamities which 
later on have so frequently been visited 
upon the ill-fated town. Finally as if in 
sheer desperation at the bootless fight he 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



133 



was making against fate, Baird gathered 
up what little he could from the wreck, 
and taking his estimable wife and daugh- 
ter, went to Arkansas and engaged in 
hotel keeping. But fate still had mis- 
fortunes in store for him. His daughter 
sickened and died and later on the final 
blow, the loss of his beloved but heart- 
broken wife. Stripped of family and 
property, broken in spirit and bowed 
with age, Baird returned to Oliio, where 
with relatives, in the southern part of 
the state, if living, he makes his home. 

David Hays, Slater's lawyer, fell, too, 
into hard lines. He was at one time the 
owner of much property, but fortune, 
ever tickle in her ways, turned against 
him and, like Baird, for a time he felt 
like "ealling upon the rocks to cover 
him"" from the clutch of remorseless cred- 
itors. 

But at tlio last, by a lucky turn in the 
tide — a sudden advance in some city 
property he owned — he reached shore 
with something saved from the wreck, 
though, in the meantime, he had the sad 
misfortune to lose his wife — a most 
worthy woman — who died bereft of her 
reason, her death having been preceded 
only a short time by that of their only 
daughter. 

George Strain, the prosecuting attor- 
ney who drew the indictment and prose- 
cuted Slater, went insane, later on, and 



died, afterwards in an insane asylum. 
What has been the fate of the jurors who 
indicted the unfortunate man, I have not 
inquired. In fact, I have not cared to 
pursue the unpleasant subject further, 
lest the truth might reveal a like sad 
state of affairs clear through. 

It is a little singular, too, that, with 
rare exceptions, nearly every enterprise, 
nearly every business man, no matt<'r 
how worthy, starting in Bairdstown, has 
met with disaster or ill-success, sooner or 
later. 

The recent fires, from whatever mys- 
ivrious cause, are, to all appearances, but 
the greater culmination of misfortunes, 
of which previous ones have been as but 
muttering warning of the slumbering 
volcano beneath. 

It is but proper to state here upon the 
authority of Frank W. Dunn, who relat- 
vil the fact to me only a day or so sfnce, 
that a woman now living in Kansas, but 
who lived near Slater at the time of the 
stack burning, wrote a full account of the 
burning and the_ft, to William McMur- 
lay before his death. Her statement 
corroborated as it was by circumstances, 
was doubtless true and was the first posi- 
tive testimony as to Slater's innocence of 
the crime. But it came too late. The 
woman as is well shown in her letter, 
liad good reasons for not daring to reveal 
her storv at the time. 



A TEN YEARS' STRUGGLE 



The Intense Strife in Removal of the County 
Seat Half a Century Ago 



IT has ever been the experience that in 
every instance involving the removal 
of a county seat from one locality to 
another, strife and opposition have been 
engendered, and the removal of the 



county seat from Perrysburg to Bowling 
Green was no exception to this fact. 
Probably no removal was ever productive 
of more intense feeling or more bitter 
denunciation on both sides in that 
memorable contest. Ananias held full 
sway, and to such an extent that enmi- 
ties were provoked and friendships es- 
tranged. For the time the prosperity of 
the county was measurably checked, and 
the turmoil tended to weaken the popu- 



134 



THE PIONEER 



lation morally, politically and financially 
as well. 

Fifty years have passed away since 
that time and many of our older citizens 
still rememljer that prolonged struggle. 
It began in iSlir). and was r.ot d'.'fiMitcly 
and pennanently settled until in the fall 
of 18 T5. The first election was held in 
1866, and resulted in favor of the re- 
moval from Perrysburg to Bowling 
Green. The citizens of Bowling Green 
entered into a 1)ond to build as good a 
court house and jail at Bowling Green 
as those at Perrysburg were at the time 
they were built, on condition that the 
material of the old buildings at Perrys- 
burg and the lots on which they stood be 
given to the removal interest. If the 
conditions were fulfilled the county was 
not to be taxed for court house and jail. 

But the people were taxed, and under 
the following circumstances: The com- 
missioners stepped in and demanded to 
be heard as the guardians of the county's 
interests. They changed the location 
from the one chosen where the founda- 
tion could be laid on the solid rock; the 
size of the court house, under their direc- 
tion, was also enlarged. They demanded 
that the cotmty required better and more 
commodious buildings than those at 
Perrysburg. The removal interest adopt- 
ed the suggestions and demands of the 
county commissioners and built accord- 
ingly. The commissioners also demand- 
ed manv d !i t improvements and pro- 
posed to pay for the same out of the 
county treasury. They took into account 
the increasing business of a large, rich 
and rapidly developing county, and their 
action was taken after a confer;'nco with 
a number of the best and most judicious 
men of the county. None of these im- 
provements were contemplated by the 
signers of the bond. For these improve- 
ments the people were taxed $3,006, 

The removal interest proceeded in good 
faith to carry out their pledge in the 
bond. When they were ready they made 



complete arrangements to carry the old 
material from Perrysburg to Bowling 
Green, but were then prevented by the 
court, invoked by the anti-removal inter- 
est, and they never received one cent 
from the sale of the property of the 
county at Perrysburg. Thus this condi- 
tion on which the bond hinged was not 
available. 

The auditor was then directed to adver- 
tise for bids under the authority of the 
commissioners, and an entire new jail was 
built for the contract price of $14,506, 
which was $494 less than the Bowling 
Green bond, and much less than the esti- 
mate made of the county buildings at 
Perrysburg. Thus there was no bad 
faith whatever on the part of the removal 
interest as was charged in the heat of 
that contest. 

Judge Phelps, probate judge, .removed 
his office from Perrysburg as soon as the 
court house at Bowling Green was ready, 
transacting business there a year or more 
before the other offices were removed in 
1870. 

The year following the cotirt house was 
destroyed by fire, but after considerable 
litigation an enabling act was secured to 
give the people another opportunity to 
vote on the removal question, this time 
to take the county offices back to Perrys- 
burg-. The Perrvsbur"- intert'st had re- 
built their court house more substantial 
and in better condition than ever, and 
the vote on removal was again taken on 
the 12th of October, 1875. 

It resulted in a large vote throughout 
the county — it may be said an extraordi- 
narily large vote — but the vote in Perrys- 
burg capped the climax. Out of a vote 
that would be a large one at 1,000, the 
l)allot box, when opened, revealed the 
number of ballots cast in favor of re- 
moval — 3,016 ! 

The vote on governor at that election 
was very close, and when Ezra S. Dodd, 
of Toledo, heard of Perrysburg's vote, he 
at once sent a telegram to John G. 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



135 



Thompson, chairman of the Democratic 
state executive committee asking, "Wouki 
1,000 from Wood be of any good ?" That 
has now passed into quite a familiar 
phrase. Mr. Dodd left Toledo as soon as 
he sent the telegram, and it was surmised 
by the chairman of the Eepublican execu- 
tive committee in Toledo, Eev. Eobert 
McCune, that Dodd had struck out for 
Bowling Green. Accordingl}' the writer 
with George S. Canfield, was dispatched 
to Bowling Green, leavino- Toledo at 11 



oVlock that night in a disagreeable rain. 
We remained until thi' votes wrr- all 
received, but Dodd had not put in an 
appearance. 

The vote of Perrysburg was thrown 
out without much ceremony, and the vote 
against removal proved to be a large, 
un]nistaka[)le majority. Thus on. led that 
memorable struggle, and the present 
prosperity of Wood county strongly 
affirms the wisdom of that decision hy 
the people. 



CAPT. DAVID WILKINSON 



One of the Veteran Steamboat Pioneers of 
the Maumee Valley 



OX Monday, September 8, 18T3, at 
his residence in Perrysburg, Cap- 
tain David Wilkinson, in the 7-ith year 
of his age, passed awa}^ 

The relatives and a very large circle of 
friends were called upon to mourn the loss 
of another pioneer of the Maumee valley. 
A few days before ]\Ir. Wilkinson was 
visited with a stroke of paralysis which 
affected his left side and rendered him 
helpless and almost insensible, in which 
condition he remained until death had 
relieved him from his suffering. His 
wife and five children were all present 
during his last moments. 

The funeral services took place from 
his late residence on Front street, and 
were conducted by the members of Phoe- 
nix Lodge No. 123, Free and Accepted 
Masons, of which lodge he was a charter 
member. The Rev. G. A. Adams offici- 
ated as chaplain. The remains were 
followed to the cemetery by a very large 
concourse of relatives and friends, and 
were deposited in the gnnc with the 
accustomed Masonic honors. 

The editors of the Toledo Blade and 
Commercial were familiar with the early 



history of the deceased, and the following 
extracts are taken from the eulogy of 
each. 

From the Blade. — One by one the pio- 
neers of the Maumee valley are passing 
away, and today there are few left to 
relate the incidents and struggk'S through 
which the early settlers of this now fer- 
tile and prosperous SL'ction of tlie state, 
were called to pass. Yesterday (Mon- 
day) closed the life of another one of 
those who lived to see their hopes respect- 
ing the Maumee valley more than real- 
ized. Captain David Wilkinson of Per- 
rysburg, is no more. The captain was 
born in Februarv, 1800, at or near Buf- 
falo, and the writer of this has often 
heard him speak of th^' ■ ■' ir •■ \- n s 
in the village of Buffalo ditring the war 
of 1812. At an early age he went upon 
the lake as a sailor, and in 1815 he sailed 
lip the Maumee river on the schooner 
Black Snake, commanded by his uncle, 
Jacob Wilkinson. This was a small 
craft to venture upon the lake, being of 
but twentj'-five tons burden. At that 
time, where Perrysburg now stands, noth- 
ing but a wild forest was to be seen. 
This little schooner as we learn from a 
memorandum furnished by Capt. Wilkin- 
son to H. S. Knapp, Esq., for his history 
of the Maumee valley, brought up as 
passengers the family of Mulhollen, who 
kept the noted tavern at Vienna some 



136 



THE PIONEER 



years later, also a Mr. Hunter and 
family, Scott Robb, and a Mr. Hopkins, 
who settled on land above the present 
village of Perrysburg. At that time, 
Fort Meigs contained about forty sol- 
diers, who were taken to Detroit by the 
schooner on her return trip. 

From the Commercial. — The deceased 
was in his 74th year, having been born in 
the year 1800. His first advent to the 
Maumee valley was in 1815, as a hand on 
board the schooner Black Snake, a craft 
of about 25 tons, commanded by Jacob 
Wilkinson, an uncle, which brought sev- 
eral passengers, who landed at Perrys- 
burg, and most of them became settlers 
of the town and vicinity. This was dur- 
ing the year in which the war with Eng- 
land closed, and Fort Meigs, above Per- 
rysburg, was still garrisoned by United 
States troops. The chief industrial 
interest at that time was fishing. In 
1817 the young navigator, though but 17 
years old, was promoted to the command 
of the Black Snake. In 1818 he took 
command of the schooner Pilot, which 
plied between the river and Buffalo, and 
continued to sail different vessels until 
1835. Among these crafts was the 
Eagle, a schooner built in 1828 at Port 
Lawrence (now Toledo). In 1835 he 
became the commander of the steamer 
Commodore Perry, which he sailed for 
ten years, when he took charge of the 
Superior, in which he remained until 
1852, when he left the lakes. Since that 



time he has devoted himself to the culti- 
vation of his farm and to the charge of 
the Light-house in the Maimiee Bay, near 
Manhattan. 

Deceased was a man of great kindness 
of heart and geniality in disposition, 
whereby he won his way to the esteem 
of all acquaintances; while by his in- 
tegrity and honorable dealing he com- 
manded the confidence of his fellow men 
in an eminent degree. His independ- 
ence of character ever prompted him to 
self-reliance and unremitting effort. 
After a residence in the Valley of 58 
years, he passed away amid a state of 
things in extraordinary contrast with the 
scene which presented itself to his 
youthful eyes. He leaves five children 
— two sons and three daughters — to 
mourn the departure of one who never 
failed in his duty to them, and whose 
advantages in life have been mainly due 
to his unceasing care. Few, indeed, of 
his earliest contemporaries now remain, 
and the last of them will soon follow 
him. Be it the care of those who have 
or shall come after them not to forget 
the debt due to their early enterprise 
and sacrifices. 

Capt. Wilkinson is said to have made 
the first chart of the Maumee river and 
ba}^, which was adopted by the govern- 
ment, and was in general use until a 
more accurate one was made many years 
later. 



MAIL CARRYING 



The Struggles and Hardships Endured by 
Mail Carriers in the Early Thirties 



THAT old pioneer, Noah Reed, thus 
speaks of the trials of the mail 
carriers in the early history of Wood 
county: i 

Tr the year 1"'^2 — the year of the 



'"Black Hawk war" — in the first week 
of that year, Hiram Wade made his first 
trip as a mail carrier under Guy bear- 
ing who had the mail contract. The 
route was from Perrysburg to Lima. 
His first trip was a pleasant one. On 
his second trip he got through to Lima 
all right, but on his return to Perrys- 
burg he encamped on a sand ridge near 
the center of Wood county, and during 
the night the wolves in large numbers 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



137 



flocked so closely about him that he was 
compelled to build a tire between a large 
stump and the butt of a whitewood log 
that was hollow as a shell. lie was 
somewhat frightened, and for greater se- 
curity he crawled into the log to keep 
clear of the wolves. Finally the log it- 
self caught tire and he was obliged to 
desert his quarters. However, Wade did 
not get out of that log unscathed. His 
face and hands were badly burned, the 
mail bag scorched, and two large holes 
were burned through his blanket. That 
was his last trip. 

jSText my brother, L. W. Eeed carried 
the mail two trips, which resulted in a 
lameness of his horse. He met with a 
mishap in which he nearly drowned both 
himself and horse, and lost the mail bag, 
which was recovered a few days later full 
of water. On his second trip there was 
no mail to collect on his way to Lima 
and on his return he had but two letters 
^one for Gilead and one for Perrysburg. 
That was his last trip. 

JSText A. B. Crosby made on© trip. 
Next was Hiram Fane, who made a trip, 



Ijut he had no bad luck. Following him 
was a man, whose name I have forgotten. 
He came very near being drowned and 
his horse crippled in the Blanchard 
river. He left the horse and hung the 
saddle on a tree. This man simply un- 
dertook the job of carrying the mail out 
of curiosity, to see whether it was as 
difficult as had been reported by Wade 
and Reed. He found out, and his curios- 
ity was fully satisfied. 

ISTow, I undertook the work of carry- 
ing the mail. I made my first trip dur- 
ing the last week in February of 1833, 
and carried the mail until the last of 
November of that year without any in- 
jury to my horse. However, quite fre- 
quently I was compelled to break the ice 
for myself and horse, and had great 
difficulty in crossing the Blanchard. On 
one occasion I was utterly unable to 
cross that stream on account of the ex- 
traordinary high water, and could not 
make the trip. For this the government 
kept back $50 of my hard earnings in 
lliat perilous trip. 



REV. JOSEPH BADGER 



Thrilling Incident in His Life When Attacked 
by Wolves 



THIS gentleman, so well known and 
identified with the early history of 
Wood county, had his home in Gustavus, 
Trumbull county, where he began his un- 
selfish labors as early as 1804. A high- 
ly educated man, a graduate of one of 
the great Eastern colleges, he yet chose 
to tread the thorny path of a pioneer 
missionary, enduring the hardships and 
facing the dangers of the western forest 
that he might do good unto his fellow- 
men. In 1835 lie removed to Wood 



county, where he died fourteen years 
later, in 1849, at the advanced age of 
89. 

One Sunday morning from his pulpit 
in Grustavus, he related the following 
thrilling adventure: 

"I had started to come through from 
Ashtabula, but there being no path I 
got ahead but slowly, and I can not say 
how far I had come when darkness came 
upon me. As I could make no headway 
through a pathless wood I tied my horse 
so that it could feed about some, and 
then lay down on the grass to rest. Ere 
long I was aroused by the cry of a wolf. 
This cry was answered, and soon it 
seemed that a hundred ravenous wolves 
wore howling for their prey. I quickly 



138 



THE PIONEER 



arose, tied nij horse more firmly, and, 
feeling about in the darkness, found a 
stout limb, which I cut for a cudgel 
and prepared for an encounter with the 
enemy. 

^'The wolves formed a circle about 
me. I drew near to my horse and walked 
around him constantly. The wolves 
came so near that I could hear the snap- 
ping of their jaws. All night long I 
kept up this walk, beating the trees with 
my stick and shouting to keep the hungry 
animals at bay. My horse trembled, but 
trusting to my protection did not try to 
get away. 

"In the first gray light of morning 
the wolves began to creep slowly away. 
Their cries grew fainter and fainter in 
the distance and I found that they had 
left me. Blessing God for the countless 
manifestations of his goodness in pre- 



serving me through this and similar 
perils I was again proceeding on my 
way when once more the barking of 
wolves resounded througli the forest. 
There was little opportunity for me to 
hasten, as fallen trees, brush and bushes 
were in the way. The pursuers were 
coming quite near and their howling rent 
the air, when suddenly there was a crash- 
ing near me and like a flash of light a 
fine, full grown deer leaped out, bubbles 
of white foam falling from his mouth, 
and panting for breath. He thrust his 
head alongside my faithful horse and so 
came beside me until we reached a clear- 
ing probably four miles from the place 
where I had spent the night. The hun- 
gry wolves were again baffled and retired 
to await the coming of another night in 
which to continue their search for food." 



STRANGE INCIDENT 



Memorable Little Cabin — Three Lives 
Snuffed Out, and Under a Veil of 
Mystery 



ON" the right hand, or cast side of the 
.Haskins road, about two and a 
fourth miles from Bowling Green, the 
passerby may have noticed on the crown 
of the sand ridge, just inside the field, a 
little old dilapidated, deserted log cabin. 
It has stood there for years and years, 
like a faithful sentry noting the progress 
of surrounding events, and the days oi 
its existence exceed that of any other 
cabin in Plain toAvnship. It was for 
man}' years previous to the drainage of 
the country adjacent, a sort of Mt. 
Ararat to the unfortunate travelers on 
the "old"' Miltonville road. Many a 
weary man has sought rest in that little 
homely cabin. It was long known as 
the Wilson place, and was built by a 
man named Wilson, and was for a time 



made to do extensive hotel duty. All 
classes per force patronized it — emigrants 
from afar as well as local dignitaries, 
sought friendly shelter in its narrow 
limits. 

The Spinks, Hollisters, Eobys, Spaf- 
fords, Drs. Dustin, Peck Burritt and 
Conant, CoUister Haskins, W. Y. Way, 
Count Coffinberry, Ealph Keelcr, all the 
leading men of that day, had sought 
slu'lter under the roof of that diminutive 
cabin on the sand ridge. True it was 
but one story high and nearly all of one 
end was taken up by a great fire place, 
but for all that it was the only dry ])lace 
the benighted traveler, with his weary 
horse, could find. Stay he mtist, and 
some nights there were almost as many 
sleepers snoring away as there were split 
puncheons in the rude floor, on which 
the gatests had to lay, for bedsteads were 
scarce in those days. 



Involved in a Law Suit 

But enough about the old cabin. 



It 

was in the vear 1840, the veav in which 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



139 



Gen. Harrison was elected President, 
that the two Harris brothers, Seth and 
James, moved into the cabin, which had 
been abandoned by its former occupants. 
James Harris was a bachelor and lived 
in his brother's family, and the brothers 
worked together. They had a short 
time previous lived in Liberty town- 
ship, either on the premises or not far 
from where the late James Bloom lived. 
Bloom and the Harris' had become in- 
volved in a law suit, which suit had been 
taken up and was pending trial in the 
county court at Perrysburg. Court was 
in session, and both parties, plaintiff and 
defendants were there ready for trial. 

Before the case was called up, how- 
ever, the parties to the suit had effected 
a settlement, though considerable bad 
feeling had been worked up in the mean 
time. It was the current talk at the 
time, that all the parties met at the 
tavern and took a drink, after which tfee 
Harris' started home. On the road 
home, Seth Harris was 

Taken Very Sick 

And as soon as they reached the cabin 
James Harris went for a doctor Rice, 
who lived where Portageville now is. 
Before he arrived at the cabin with the 
doctor, James Harris also was taken very 
sick with similar symptoms to those of 
his brother Seth. All the efforts and 
skill of the doctor could, nor did not 
relieve them, and Seth died in great 
agony, and twelve hours after, his broth- 
er James was laid on the bed beside him 
a corpse. 

Mr. Ralston, who was about the near- 
est neighbor, except Eli Martindale, on 
the present Clinton Fay farm, was alone 
in the cabin, washing the body of James 
Harris and was in the act of putting a 
clean shirt on him, when Dr. Rice 
arrived, bringing with him another physi- 
cian named Thomas and a half gallon jug 
of whisky. Rice told Ralston not to dress 
the bodv as he desired to cut the man 



open and find if possible what caused 
his death. 

Suspicion 

Rice, it seems, had suspicions that the 
two men's lives had been cut short by 
something tlioy had drank or eaten. He 
got a butcher knife and sharpened it, 
but before he was ready to operate. Dr. 
Thomas was taken with a shake of the 
ague and had to lay down. Rice ripped 
open the stomach of the dead man and 
could discover nothing wrong as he said, 
though his frequent drafts on the half 
gallon jug, did not improve his sense of 
vision any. 

He then turned and cut open the breast 
and tliroat clear to the chin, Ralston 
holding the chest open while the heart, 
liver and lungs were examined. During 
the savage operation with the butcher 
knife, Rice scratched one of his fingers 
on the jagged breast bone of the dead 
man, but paid no further attention to it 
than to clap his finger to his mouth and 
suck the oozing blood from the skin 
al)rasion. 

The lungs of the man were discolored 
and showed an unnatural condition, but 
Rice pronounced that he could find no 
trace of poison, and soon after he and 
Thomas left. Mr. Ralston took the 
carved body of Harris and washed, ar- 
ranged and wrapped it as well as he 
could, and the bodies of the two men 
were taken from tlie cabin and buried. 

The Doctor Succumbs 

Three days after their burial, Mr. Ral- 
ston was in Portage, and learned that 
Dr. Rice was lying in a critical condi- 
tion. He called in to see him and the 
■ doctors were just in the act of amputa- 
ting the frantic man"s arm, which, from 
the small finger wound received while 
oporating on Harris's liody, had become 
intensely inflamed, mortification followed, 
and the flesh came from the arm in 
chunks and flakes while the doctors were 
performing the amputation, which was 



140 



THE PIONEER 



effected near the shoulder, to arrest if 
possible the further progress of the 
poison; but it was too late. The poison 
had taken possession of his whole system, 
blood, brain and muscle. Rice was a 
doomed man and survived the cutting ofE 
of his arm only a short time, when he 
too, died in great agony, helped and 
hurried off, no doubt, by the hard usage 



of himself including the too free use of 
whisky. 

Thus three strong, healthy men were 
suddenly snatched from the sparsely 
settled neighborhood — from life to death, 
and the living, neither then nor since 
were able to satisfactorily answer the 
question, what caused their sudden 
death ?— C. W. E. 



CYGNET'S CALAMITY 



Flames Destroy Human Lives and Wipe Out 

Much Property Nearly a Score of 

Years Ago 



ON the morning of the 30th of Jan- 
uary, 1891, Cygnet was visited by 
a most disastrous conflagration. The 
Wood County Democrat chronicled the 
fact that three lives had been snuffed out 
and $50,000 worth of property destroyed. 
Here follows The Democrat's account: 

Cygnet, as is well known, is an oil 
town and is one of the incidents of the 
discovery of oil in Ohio. 

All the buildings in the town were 
hastily and poorly constructed affairs, 
and many of them were more or less 
saturated with the oil that not only per- 
meates the earth, but also the very atmos- 
phere, and deadens and discolors the 
genial current waters. 

Buildings of that variety are easy prey 
to the fire-fiend, and most woefully did 
he perform his deplorable mission today. 
The business portion of the town com- 
prises only one street which is intersected 
about middle by the T., C. & C. railroad. 
West of the railroad on the north side of 
the street, a disastrous fire occurred this 
morning, destroying $50,000 worth of 
properly and ushering three human be- 
ings into eternity. 

The fire originated in the millinery 
store of Mrs. Malonev and was not dis- 



covered until it had gained an impetus 
that was irresistible. It was 5 :30 when 
the flames asserted their presence in the 
bed room of Mrs. Maloney, who was oc- 
cupying a bed on the first floor with her 
domestic, Mattie Stackhouse. The fire 
caused an explosion of gas which awak- 
ened her to the danger of her situation. 
She immediately awakened Miss Stack- 
house and her five-year-old son and the 
two hastily donned their dresses and fled 
tc the rear of the building, taking the 
boy with them. When they got out of 
doors tlie two women looked back into 
the burning building, and saw Francis 
Slattery, a brother of Mrs. Maloney, 
crawling about on the second floor cov- 
ered with flames. They called to him to 
come out of a certain door, but he was 
probably unconscious. Slattery was 
sleeping on the second floor with Mr. 
Maloney and Mr. Maloney's 15-months- 
old child, and the three were burned to a 
crisp. 

Mr. Maloney was 30 years old and was 
a boiler maker by trade. Mrs. Maloney 
kept a millinery store on the first floor of 
Hie ill-fated building. 

The flames spread before the influence 
of a western wind towards the east, and 
in an hour had destroyed several of the 
principal buildings of the town. In less 
than an hour, the whole block was a 
i-inoldering ruin. 

The baby was burned up completely, 
nothing but its skull being found in the 
debris. The town is full of people come 
to see the great conflagration. 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



141 



A FALSE ALARM 



An Indian Rumor Frightened Settlers And 
This Was the "Blackhawk War" 



THE "Blackhawk War"' in 1832, was 
no war at all. All it amounted to 
was a senseless rumor that thoroughly 
alarmed the settlers for a short time. In 
his pioneer recollections, Noah Keed 
gives the following version of the inci- 
dent: 

"In the summer of 1832, as some of 
the Pottawatomies were out hunting they 
ran across some of our young Ottawa 
Indians. They conveyed to them the 
alarming intelligence that the blood- 
thirsty Blackhawk of Illinois, was on his 
way to this point, and his purpose was to 
kill every Indian woman and child. This 
intelligence so frightened the Ottawa 
Indians that they scattered in every direc- 
tion in their canoes or by other methods 
of escape. Many of them slept in their 
canoes. The Ottawas spread the rumor 
far and near, and were so positive of the 
truth of the report that the white settlers 
were thrown into a state of anxiety and 
dread. Some of them were so alarmed 



that they buried and hid their property, 
and then went to hearing's Mill as a 
place of safety. Some fled to Beaver 
Creek for greater safety, and placed 
guards on duty so that they might be 
duly warned of the approach of the sav- 
age chief and his warriors. 

"Uncle Guy Nearing learning of the 
consternation that prevailed among the 
settlers, and regarding the rumor as noth- 
ing more than an idle report, without 
even the semblance of truth, determined 
to have some sport with those who had 
barricaded themselves within the mill at 
Damascus. One night at 10 o'clock he 
came riding like Jehu of old, splashing 
the water and singing in the Indian style 
until he came up to the guard. 'Who 
comes there?' was the prompt query of 
the guard. 'Nowash,' answered Uncle 
Guy, giving his Indian name. This act 
on the part of Uncle Guy convinced the 
guard that the rumor of Blackhawk com- 
ing was a silly hoax, and those who were 
huddled in the mill began to regard the 
matter in a different light, and in some 
embarrassment they concluded to return 
to their homes, confident that all their 
fright was needless. And this was the 
sum and substance of the so-called 
'Blackhawk War' on Beaver Creek." 



JONATHAN SALSBURY 



An Athlete for Work — Never Idle — In an Evi' 

Hour He Was Stripped "of His 

Possessions 



JONATHAN SALSBUEY and the Sals- 
bury farm in Liberty township, will 
long be remembered by the old settlers. 
Old man Salsbury, as he was familiarly 
called many years ago, was rather a re- 
markable man and had endured hard 
work and man-killing hardships enough 
to have killed four or five ordinary men. 



In the spring of 1831 he bought 880 
acres of timber land in Liberty township, 
then a wilderness, the patents for which 
were signed by Andrew Jackson. He 
immediately set to work to clear and im- 
prove the tract and after staying on it 
about 30 years had improved over 300 
acres. Aside from the work on his farm, 
wherever there were extensive contracts 
for work such as teams could be used 
on with advantage, Jonathan Salsbury 
was a competitor. When the people be- 
gan to open artificial water courses in 
Wood county, and the prairie or swamp 
lands were to be brought under cultiva- 



14-i 



THE PIOiSrEER 



lion, Salsbui'}- Jouiid a field in wliicli lie 
was peculiarly a success. He fitted up 
an enormous plow that was gauged and 
guided by wheels and capable of cutting 
and turning a furrow 33 inches wide, and 
so constructed as to require nobody to 
"hold the plow,'* in fact the plow had no 
handles. To this breaking machine six 
pairs of oxen and one span of horses 
were hitched, and MJien under full head- 
way no ordinary root, sapling or grub 
would disturb its i)rogress. The cutter 
and shear were kept filed sharp and it 
was not necessary to grul) land for this 
."ort of a plow. 

. Always at It 

When Salsbury started on a job it mat- 
tered not to him about the weather. 
Eain, snow, mud or water never deterred 
him from pushing the work from break 
of day in the morning until after dark 
at night. 

We remember on one occasion when he 
broke 100 acres of land for Dr. Cass on 
the Keeler prairie, to have passed across 
the prairie after night and seen the old 
man camped under his wagon with 
scarcely bedding to keep him off the wet 
ground. A cheerless fire flickered up a 
little light occasionally, and but for the 
barking of his dog, his only companion, no 
one would have supposed a human being 
to have been within two miles of the 
I)lace. His team grazed on the prairie 
near by, and before other people had 
taken their breakfast in the morning, 
Salsbury had made one "bout" with his 
big plow and a full half acre of prairie 
had been turned upside down. 

When George Williams began on the 
prairie east of here years ago, he con- 
tracted with Salsbury to plow a half sec- 
tion of land (330 acres). The old man 
came with his big plow and team the 17th 
day of March, and never left even to go 
home, until the work w^as completed on 
the 4th day of July. His feet were wet 
a great portion of the time, and yet he 
never was sick. 



Salsbury was not one of your men that 
worked hard for a season and then idled 
away months of time. He was ahvays on 
the move. Scarcely an hour of the night 
in the working season on the farm that 
he was- not up and out looking after 
stock, crops or fences — fact, those who 
knew him best wondered when he slept 
or how he existed, leading such a hard, 
grudging, toiling dog's life. Yet when 
he was nearing his ninetieth year he 
seemed as smart and active as ever. 

The Plague Spot of His Life 

With his kirge lauded estate at the 
start, and his working habits, dogged 
perseverance, he had a good start, it will 
be inferred, to make a fortune, and to 
wliich his industry and slavish services 
undoubtedly entitled him, if, indeed, 
worldly pelf can be called a compensa- 
tion for such a life. Yes, he made a for- 
tune, but it went from him in an unfor- 
tunate hour, else he had been the richest 
man in the county, and yet, after a long 
life of drudgery, he has but little of this 
world's goods to show for it, hardly a 
sure reliance for his old age. While 
convi'rsing with him he was reticent on 
this subject, but we will tell it briefly, 
and let the story not be lost on those who 
liear it, 

Jonathan Salsbury was induced to in- 
vest in a lottery. He was uneducated 
and credulous and avaricious. Like two- 
thirds of the sons of Adam, he was ready 
to invest in any speculation or game 
which promised a good deal for nothing 
or, next to it, a small investment. Dr. 
Eoback of Cincinnati, is the man to 
whom Salsbury attributes his misfortune. 
First $100, then $500, $1,000, $1,500, 
until over $3,000 was gone. The trick 
was baited and the old man drew a lucky 
ticket or so. Then he lost. Then the 
man who was leading him on pretended 
by some power of necromancy or legerde- 
main to be able to forecast the lucky num- 
bers. These Salsbury reached for to re- 
cover what he had already lost, and of 



SC'l.'AP-I'.OOK, 



143 



courst> drew blanks. All was gone now, Hon. George E. Pngh. The prisoner 

and he as a last resort cansed Roback's was so hedged about, that the law or tes- 

arrest on a eriniinal charge, and the timony could not reach him and he went 

sheriit' brought the prisoner to Perrys- free. — C. W. E. 
burg, accompanied ])y his lawyer, the late 



IMPREGNABLE 



Against the Vicious Assaults of Great Britain 

and Her Allied Savages Stood 

Ft. Meigs 



NO greater victory, none of more trans- 
cending import is recorded in our 
nation's history than that of the sieges 
of Fort Meigs. It was the purpose of 
Gen. Harrison, the commander-in-chief, 
to retake Detroit which had been so in- 
gloriousl}' surrendered by Gen. Hull. 
Harrison had been appointed Governor 
of the Northwestern territory, including 
Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wiscon- 
sin — having done much civil and mili- 
tai-y service, well known to history. 

Victory of Tippecanoe 

On the 5th of November, 1811, Gov- 
ernor Harrison marched with some regu- 
lars and militia, 800 strong, upon the 
Prophet's town (the brother of Tecum- 
seh), on the Tippecanoe river, in Indiana, 
where he was entrenched. The Indians 
were defeated and dispersed, their lead- 
er, the Prophet, being killed. This 
overawed the Indians, who Avere in al- 
most entire possession of the whole terri- 
tory, but war with England being im- 
minent, tlii'y refused a peace. 

Hull's Surrender 

War with England was declared .Tune 
12, 1812. Gen. Hull was sent Avith his 
army to Detroit to conquer western Can- 
ada. In August following he surren- 
dered his entire army, Detroit and the 
Northwestern ten-itory to Gen. Brock, 
of the British annv. This surrender 



filled the \\hole country with surprise, 
alarm and indignation, and he was every- 
where denounced as a traitor, in spite of 
liis ])atriotic services during the Revolu- 
tion. He was courtmartialed on two 
charges, treason and cowardice. He was 
condemned to be shot but was afterwards 
reprieved. 

Winchester's Defeat 

In an address of Cassius M. Clay, in 
1891, he said that on the first day of 
January, 1813, the Northwest army un- 
der Brig.- Gen. Harrison rested, with the 
left wing, commanded by Gen. Winches- 
ter at Fort Defiance, on the ^laiiuKv 
river, and the right wing under the com* 
mander-in-chief at Upper Sandusky. 
Detroit being the objective point of at- 
tack, Winchester was ordered to march 
with his brigade of Kentuckians and 
regulars, commanded on the left by Col. 
Lewas, to reach the rapids and await 
Harrison's arrival. But Winchester on 
the 14th, hearing of the weak garrison 
of Frenchtown, on the river Raisin, in 
Michigan, detached Col. Lewis to capture 
it, which was done on the 18th of Jan- 
uary, 1813. 

Winchester, hearing of the capture, 
marched to the support of Lewis, refused 
to enter liis pickets, and camped his regi- 
ment on the plains outside, because he 
would not take post on the left of Lewis 
— military etiquette ordering — and he 
slept at a farmhouse a mile distant from 
Col. Wells' regiment. 

Massacre at River Raisin 

A British force under General Proc- 
tor, marched with regulars and Indians 
in the night of the 21st, assaulted Lewis' 



144 



THE PIONEEK 



fort, and were repulsed with great slaugh- 
ter. They then turned on Wells' regi- 
ment and cut it to pieces, taking many 
prisoners, among them Col. Wells him- 
self. The whole British force, with six 
field pieces, was turned upon Ijewis, who 
surrendered under promise of the protec- 
tion of civilized warfare. The generals, 
colonels and men were saved as stipulat- 
ed, but all the wounded were massacred 
in Frenchtown. There was no guard 
left, and two houses full ot the wounded 
were burned. . 

Siege of Fort Meigs 

Defeat after defeat seemed to be the lot 
of the American forces, and after the 
battle and massacre at Frenchtown, Gen. 
Harrison was compelled to abandon the 
recapture of Detroit and to stand on the 
defensive. During the spring of 1813, 
he pushed forward to completion the 
work on Fort Meigs, so-called in honor 
of Gov. E. J. Meigs, of Ohio. This was 
a work of no small magnitude and mo- 
ment. For no sooner had the ice com- 
menced to move in the river and lake 
than the British general, Proctor, form- 
ed his plans for the invasion of the 
Maumee Valley. By threats, by entreat- 
ies, by cunning schemes and false promis- 
es. Proctor secured the assistance and 
fired the zeal of Tecumseh, promising to 
turn over to the Indians Fort Meigs, its 
garrison and immense stores, and the 
savages, fresh from the bloody scenes of 
Eaisin Valley and Frenchtown, were only 
too ready to join in the crusade for 
plunder. 

Gen. Proctor embarked from Detroit 
with 2,000 regulars and Indians, in 
the last week of April, 1813, and occu- 
pied Fort Miami, when the savages in- 
dulged in their favorite pastime of skirm- 
ishing, pillaging and scalping in the 
vicinity. 

Meanwhile, on the 1st, 2d and 3d of 
May, the British and their allies Avere 
pouring hot shot into the fort. Batteries 
had been erected just across the river, 



and the firing was something terrible. 
Only the strong earthworks saved the 
Americans from death and destruction, 
Kound and round, the Indians skirmished, 
picking off the American soldiers when- 
ever they had a chance, while the British 
kept up an untiring cannonade. 

Gen. Harrison had dispatched a mes- 
senger. Major Oliver, to Gen. Clay, who 
was at Fort Defiance, and on the night 
of May 4, came the cheering news that 
Clay was above Fort Meigs with 1,200 
men. The historian Collins in his Ken- 
tucky History says: 

"Gen. Harrison, with the rapid resolu- 
tion of military genius, dispatched by 
Capt. Hamilton an order to Clay, to 
land 800 men upon the northern shore, 
opposite the fort, to carry the British 
batteries there placed; to spike the can- 
nons and destroy the carriages, after 
which they Avere immediately to regain 
their boats and cross over to the fort. 
Hamilton, ascending the river in a canoe, 
delivered the orders to Clay. But he, 
with that sagacity which distinguished 
his life, sent Hamilton to deliver Harri- 
son's order to Col. William Dudley him- 
self. Dudley captured the batteries and 
filled his orders literally — all but the im- 
portant one. Led off by the artifices of 
Indian warfare, he was killed with all 
his force, save about 150 men. Clay 
landed his 1,200 men." 

In a letter written by Gen. Clay to a 
friend in Kentucky, dated July 8, 1813, 
while he was in command at Ft. Meigs, 
he says: 

"On the day of the action, Maj. David 
Trimble accompanied me to cover the 
retreat of the remnant of Col. Dudley's 
regiment, and behaved with great cool- 
ness and gallantry. * * * Here the 
Kentuckians drove Tecumseh, where the 
hottest battle was fought, and then he 
crossed the river, and with their whole 
force overthrew Col. Dudley." 

The Bed- Rock of History 

Acting under General Harrison's or- 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



147 



dors, on May 5, 1813, with 1,200 men, 
Green Clay, defeated the immortal Te- 
ciimseh and the British forces, 3,000 
men, in open daylight, drove them over 
the river, and saved 150 Kentucky sol- 
diers, the remnant of his brigade, from 
death. This was the first real victory, 
within the lines of this address, since 
the declaration of war, Janiiary 12, 1812. 

Col. Dudley's Fatal Error 

After the British batteries opposite 
Fort Meigs were d"ismantled, the guns 
spiked and the flags pulled down, in 
obedience to orders, a writer in the To- 
ledo Blade gives this account of Dudley's 
disaster : 

^'Capt. Coombs and 30 riflemen were 
in advance of the main body when the 
Indians in ambush turned on Coombs. 
Dudley saw the danger and ordered his 
men to their assistance. The Indians 
were driven back and Coombs was saved. 

"But it was only for a moment. The 
Indians re-enforced turned. Dudley and 
his men were scattered through the woods. 
They were surrounded. Fighting desper- 
ately some of the command were pushed 
back towards the boats. All along the 
river they were driven backward and 
forward, fighting, struggling bravely and 
contesting every inch of the ground. But 
Dudley fell a victim to the savages while 
630 out of 800 who landed with him, 
were either killed, wounded or taken 
prisoners. 

''Gen. Harrison, with indescribable 
anguish, saw this advance movement from 
Fort Meigs and saw what must be the 
inevitable result. He tried to signal 
Dudley's command back, but in vain, and 
all the orders sent were not received. 
Col. Dudley had sacrificed almost all his 
army to save Coombs and his riflemen 
from destiiiction. When too late he tried 
to call his men back, but the Kentuckians. 
confident of success, only pushed on deep- 
er into the forest, and to their own ruin. 

"Col. Dudley, when last seen, was 



fighting the Indians single-handed in the 
swamp. He died surrounded by the 
savages whom he had killed. But they 
had their revenge. His body was slashed 
and in many places large pieces were cut 
out — pieces which it is thought the 
savages in their drunken madness cooked 
and ate." 

But the sorties from Ft. Meigs were 
successful. The British were driven from 
their ])atteries, and forced to beat a hasty 
retreat by the remainder of the Kentuck- 
ians commanded by Col. Boswell, MaJ. 
Johnson and Maj. Alexander. The siege 
was raised. The fort was saved. 

The Second Siege 

Gen. Green Clay was in command of 
Fort Meigs during the second siege, Gen. 
Harrison was at Lower Sandusky. On 
the 20th of July the British again ascend- 
ed the Maumee river. I^he united forces 
of Proctor and Tecumseh amounted to 
more than 5,000, while the Americans 
at the fort amounted to but a few hun- 
dred. Gen. Harrison having withdrawn 
the American forces to other forts in 
Ohio. 

When Gen. Harrison heard of the 
movements of the British, he sent Capt. 
McCune to the assistance of the garrison. 
His knowledge of the plans of the enemy 
prevented a wholesale slaughter of the 
soldiers at the fort. 

A Cunning Device Failed 

Tecumseh had planned a cunning 
strategem which almost proved success- 
ful. The British infantry were secreted 
in a ravine near the fort, the cavalry in 
the woods, and the Indians in the forest 
back from the fort. The British and 
their allies commenced a sham battle 
among themselves. So cunningly was 
the scheme i^lanned, and so skilfully was 
the fraud managed that it deceived the 
garrison, but not their commander. The 
men demanded permission to go out and 
assist in the battle, and were indignant 



148 

when this permission was denied. Had 
not a shower put a stop to the sham 
battle, the men would probably have been 
led into an ambush and the fort taken. 

A Desperate Resolve 

But the soldiers in Ft. Meigs would 
never have fallen into the hands of the 
enemy alive. Preparations were made 
to fire the magazine in case the allies 



THE PIONEER 

succeeded in storming the fort and thus 
all would have perished together. It is 
more than probable that Proctor learned 
of their resolvC;, for he must have guessed 
that after the terrible scenes at the Eiver 
Raisin and Maumee the garrison would 
never fall into his hands alive. On July 
28, Proctor discontinued the siege, and 
discouraged and disheartened, retreated 
down the river in his boats. 



WOLF HUNTING 



The Method and Cunning of John Carter in 
His Expeditions 



JOHN CARTER became famous in the 
forties in southern Wood county as 
a leader among all those engaged in the 
dangerous sport of hunting wolves. One 
of his many exploits will serve to show 
his style and craft in this, his chosen 
avocation. 

It was in the early summer of 1839, 
John Carter called at the cabin of John 
Johnston, who had just settled on the 
bank of the middle branch of the 
Portage river, about three miles east of 
the village of that name, and desired to 
make his headquarters there while he 
scoured the swamps further up the river 
in search of wolves. 

He would remain at the house all day 
until at dark, and often not until the 
family had retired would he strike for 
the woods; and the wilder the location 
the better. He threaded his way through 
that swamp where the old corduroy road 
was afterward constructed — on further, 
in a southwesterly direction until he 
reached a point in that region of fat mos- 
quitoes, indicated on our old maps of 
Wood county as a lake and called "Inun- 
dated." Here in this inaccessible region, 
in the weird stillness of darkness and 
desolation. Carter began howling in imi- 



tation of a wolf which he could imitate 
with such accuracy as to defy detection 
of almost any man, and easily deceived 
the unsuspecting wolves. He had not 
howled long before he was answered. 
Now mark his cunning. He blazed sev- 
eral trees as nearly as was possible in the 
darkness, in the direction of the sound 
and laid by for the next night. Soon 
as the woods were still and night had 
shrouded the trees with their thick green 
foliage, in darkness almost tangible, I 
Carter again took his station at a point 
at right angles with the line of blazes 
made the first night, and again began 
to howl. Again he was answered and - 
blazed his trees in the direction of his I 
answers and awaited the return of day- 
light. 

The next day he followed the lines 
indicated by the trees he had marked j 
until they intersected each other, and not fj 
a rod from that point in a great hollow 
log, he found the old she wolf and four - 
cubs. From the glare of the fire of the 11 
eyes of the old wolf he was able to plant 
a ball in her skull, and then crawling in 
on his hands and knees he finished the 
cubs with his tomahawk. 

Mr. Carter continued hunting until 
1847, when he closed his hunting in 
Wood county, as the following last affi- 
davit of his, taken from the records of 
tlio clerk's office, will show: 
The State of Ohio, Wood County, ss. : 

You, John Carter, do solemnly swear. 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



149 



that the six scalps of wolves taken within 
the county of Wood by you within twenty 
days last past, and you verily believe 
under the age of six months, and that 
you have not spared the life of any she 
wolf within your power to kill, with 
the design to increase the breed ; and 
have received an order for $15.00, 



Sworn and subscribed before me, this 
2d day of June, 1847. 

THOS. UTLEY, Clerk. 

The last wolf scalp redeemed in Wood 
county was Dec. 30, 1871, and pre- 
sented by Leonard Rush, and the stub in 
the clerk's office is signed by Geo. Wed- 
del, clerk.— C. W. E. 



TRAFFIC IN 1833 



Experience of Mahlon Meeker -First Log 
House Built in Plain Township 



MAHLON MEEKER who came from 
Butler county in 1833, left his 
family and brought with him only a few 
head of cattle, remaining on the river 
most of the summer, working for Guy 
Nearing. Elias Hedges and others. To- 
ward fall he went out to the prairies to 
cut liay for his cattle and make prepara- 
tious to build a cabin, after which he and 
a man named Howard, took a wagon load 
of white bass which they bought of John 
Hollister at Perrysburg, to Belief on taine 
and West Liberty by way of Fremont 'and 
Fort Ball. With this they bought twelve 
barrels of flour and ten gallons of whisky 
and started back. When near Bellefon- 
taine, Howard proposed that he could 
drive the three yoke of oxen home and 
Meeker could go down to Butler and see 
his family and arrange for their coming 
out to the Maumee, which was accord- 
ingly done and Meeker started south- 
ward. 

After making a short visit Mr. Meeker 
soon found himself again on the prairies 
in Wood county. Howard had got back 
and disposed of all the flour excepting 
sixty pounds; this, with a keg of whisky, 
being all Mr. Meeker got out of the load. 
He was now ready to raise his cabin, a 
work which among the early settlers was 
attended with no little difficulty on 
account of living so far apart. Meeker 



had to get all his help from the river, 
some of the men coming from Perrys- 
burg, and even then they would not con- 
sent to come, so busy were they, unless h ■ 
would raise on Sunday, which of course 
he had to do. So on Saturday afternoon 
he made a shelter of poles and prairie 
grass, and with a supply of bread and 
meat and some blankets for the raisers 
and a dozen or so bunches of pea-vine 
grass, which he had mowed and placed 
about against small saplings for the 
horses, preparation for his help was 
made ; early in the evening they began to 
arrive by the Lidian trail in ones, twos 
and fours until sixteen had arrived. By 
the first light next morning they were at 
work, and now as this was the first sys- 
tematic house raising in Plain township, 
we subjoin the names of the party as 
near as Mr. Meeker can recollect. 

Elijah Herrick, Guy Nearing, ]\richael 
Sypher, John Whitehead, John Howard, 
Epaphroditus Foote, Jesse Decker, Levi 
Decker, Moses Decker, jSTathaniel Decker, 
James Spafford, Eber Wilson, Charles 
Wilson, Johnston White. 

By two o'clock the cabin was up, the 
roof (of shakes) on, and all cobbed oflP, 
with weight poles in good shape. Some 
of the men had got pretty hilarious by 
this time, not just because of tlie good 
work they had done, but because of 
frequent visits to the ten gallon keg, 
which in those days was an indispensable 
aid on occasions of this kind. 

After the work was done, Mr. Meeker 
announced that he had found a bee-tree 
near by, and if they would like some 



.150 



THE PIONEER 



JioiieVj lie would lead them to it. A vote 
w^as taken, and carried in favor of the 
sweet undertaking. The honey proved 
to be of the finest kind. One man made 
a paddle, and as fast as the honey was 
put in a pail, stirred it up well, after 
whieh the pail was filled with whisky. 
Then a commissary was chosen, with in- 
structions to administer to each man 
present, a tin cup full, no more, no less, 



alter which they mounted their horses, 
and started home, on the Indian trail 
with such whoops and shouts as would 
have startled a native denizen of the 
forest. Shortly afterward Mrs. Meeker 
arrived with their five children, and a 
i\\v household articles, and made the 
new cabin their home. — From Evers Log 
( (ibiii Sketches. 



MISSION STATION 



Some Doubt About Its Benefit to the Indian; 



NOAH REED hauled the brick for the 
Station chimneys from Daniel 
HubbelFs brick yard at Port Miami, 
there being seven loads, for which he 
received pay mostly in second-hand cloth- 
ing and stockings for the Nearing family. 



This clothing had been sent by the Home 
Mission for the heathen — probably white 
heathen. Mr. Reed thinks this Mission 
was of no great benefit to the Indians. 
'l iie ^lission Board through their agent, 
got into litigation with David Hedges 
and others. The island, about which 
they went to law with Hedges, was re- 
turned to the Government Survey as a 
sand Ijar. Hedges liought his claim 
rroia the Indians. 



EDSON GOIT 



One of the Honest, Sterling Characters That 
Are Beloved 



ED80X GOIT was a man of strong 
physical constitution, tireless en- 
ergy, vast will power and of great indus- 
try and endurance. Combined with these 
he had honor and integrity of the highest 
order, and his impulses toward his fellow 
men were generous and noble. 

Mr. Goit was born 'in Oswego county, 
New York, in 1808. While he was yet 
an infant his father died and during his 
boyhood he had but little time or oppor- 
tunity to improve his mind by the aid of 
books; but such chance as he had, he 
improved to the best possible advantage 
and hy the time he was 20 years old he 
iniiulit a district school, and before he 



^\as of age started for the western country, 
linally reaching Tiffin. 

He worked at odd jobs, taught school 
in both Tiffin and Fremont, then unpre- 
tentious villages, and in the meantime 
read law with Abel T. Rawson. In due 
course of time he was admitted to the bar 
to practice law and opened an office at 
Findlay. He made his home in the 
fi'.mily of the late L. Q. Rawson. After 
six months of studious days and anxious 
nights — six months of patient waiting 
for a client, none came. Six months 
were gone — nearly all his scanty means 
were gone — his clothes were well worn 
and only a single dollar had he earned. 
After he had sat down with the family at 
tJie breakfast table one morning, he told 
them that it was to be his last meal with 
tliem as he had decided to leave the place. 

While they were yet at the table there 
ctjme a rap at the door. A stranger was 
there and wanted to know if a lawyer 



I 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



151 



boarded at the house. The stranger was 
from the east and he had come on to col- 
lect a claim against a man who was 
teaching school not far away, and who 
owned 40 acres of land near the town. 
The case was somewhat complicated and 
papers had to be taken out. Goit pre- 
pared the papers through the day and a 
constable was quietly sent for so as to 
give no alarm or warning to the man of 
the birch-tree government. Everything 
being all ready they pounced down on 
him at night, and the result was that the 
stranger got the 40 acres of land, the 
teacher skipped out for some reason and 
Goit got as fee ten dollars and an ax. 
Then the district had no teacher and who 
could be a more proper man to fill out the 
term than Goit, which he did to the satis- 
faction of all concerned. 



In 1833 he married Miss Jane Patter- 
son and from this time on he was pros- 
perous. By the year 1840 he had accum- 
ulated quite a competence, owning at that 
time nearly 2,000 acres of the best land 
in and about Findlay, and having in 
ready cash over $10,000. 

His future, however, was wrecked in 
mercantile business and indorsing for 
others. The rascality of a partner 
brought him to Bowling Green, where he 
secured a portion of that due him. 

Through all his misfortunes Mr. Goit 
left in his later days a comfortable com- 
petence for himself and remaining fam- 
ily and as he himself said a short time 
before his death, "after so many ups and 
downs in my life I am glad to know that 
if I do not get well I shall at least die 
square with the world." — G. M\ E. 



NOT ALL A DREAM 



More Things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, 
Than Dreamed of in Thy Philosophy 



ON the morning of the 3d of Decem- 
ber, 1877, the citizens of Bowling 
Green were startled by the sudden death 
of the wife of Albert E. Eoyce, a promi- 
nent business man. She was sick but a 
few days, and her ailment was not con- 
sidered serious as she was in possession 
of all her faculties of mind up to the 
very last, and was up on her feet only a 
short time previous to her death. 

She was known, respected and liked by 
every one. Her kindly presence and 
cheerful aid, said the Sentinel, was al- 
ways ready where she could be of use or 
do good in the community, and few 
could be taken from our midst who would 
be more sadly missed. As she lay 
in the burial casket, apparently in the 
fullness of health, it seemed impossible 



to realize otherwise than that her eyes 
were gently closed in sleep, so natural 
and painless was the expression of her 
lifeless face. 

A strange coincidence in connection 
with her death was related by her hus- 
band and -friends, and given from the 
pidpit during the funeral services. Some- 
where near three years before she liad a 
dream in which it was foretold her that 
she would be taken sick on the 37th of 
November, 1877, and- that she would die 
on the 3d of December following. This 
dream she related to her husband who 
made light of it as did her parents and 
immediate friends when she told them 
the story; but with her it was not so. 
The matter appeared to weigh upon her 
mind, and several times during that time 
she spoke to her husband about it, re- 
minding him that the time was drawing 
near. Very naturally he , laughed the 
matter off, and even when on the 27th 
ult. she was taken suddenly ill and again 
referred to the dream, her friends could 
not be persuaded that there was anything 



153 



THE PIONEER 



in it. But when the morning of Decem- 
ber 3d had arrived, and at about 10 
o'clock she quietly passed away, and her 
gentle spirit took its flight, then only, 
were the sorrow-stricken relatives forced 



to acknowledge the dreadful accuracy of 
lier dream. 

This stateiiieut is literally true as 
given, and is one of the mysteries that 
must remain forever unexplained. 



AN ODD GENIUS 



'Judge" Lord of Perrysburg, the Butt of 
Local Ridicule 



AMOXG the early oddities, says Heze- 
kiali L! Hosmer, which a thirst 
for adventure or a spirit of enterprise 
brought to Perrysburg, was one Fred- 
erick Lord, better known to old residents 
as Judge Lord. He came from Maine, 
from one of whose universities he was a 
graduate, walking all the way with a 
pack on his back. He arrived in Perrys- 
burg destitute, money gone and clothing 
tattered. Failing to obtain a situation 
as a student in a law office, he took a 
small piece of laud and cultivated it to 
onions. These, eked out by an occasional 
loaf, constituted his principal diet. 

The neighbors regarded him as the 
very genius of famine, for he never for- 
sook an undrained coffee-pot or left the 
cat her portion. After a while he applied 
to the trustees for the district school. 
Judge HoUister's ingenious argununit that 
'•'every man is good for something," pre- 
vailed, and he obtained the position, 
which he filled acceptably, until his ad- 
mission to the bar. Meantime, however, 
he l^ecame unconsciously, the butt of local 
waggery and ridicule, and the inglorious 
hero of many laughable occurrences. 

On one occasion he was appointed lead- 
ing affirmative disputant in the debating 
club, to open that much mooted question, 
''Was the English Government justifiable 
in banishing Xapoleon to St. Helena?'' 
The audience had assembled and Presi- 
dent Whcvler called upon Lord, who, 



fully prepared, commenced his argmnent. 
When fairly under way, one of the mem- 
bers suddenly sprang a question of order, 
and others in the secret joined in dis- 
cussing it, until the evening was spent 
and its further consideration adjourned 
till the next meeting. Other preliminary 
questions were introduced in succession, 
each one so timed as to break in upon and 
arrest the argument which Lord was al- 
most bursting to deliver. He bore with 
these delays and annoyances through 
three or four meetings of the club; but 
finally Lord's patience was exhausted. 
Waiving the interruption, and with his 
arm extended towards his tormentors, in 
a voice hoarse with passion, he shouted: 

"Mr. President : There is a point be- 
yond which human nature will not pass, 
and I give these gentlemen due and timely 
notice that we are now " tipon the very 
v-e-rge of that point." 

The violent gesture and bodily contor- 
tion with which this menace was empha- 
sized, rendered the scene intensely ludic- 
rous, and elicited from the audience a 
perfect yell of applause. The speaker, 
however, delivered his argument without 
further hindrance. 

Soon after his admission. Judge Lord 
opened a law oftice at Napoleon. Here 
he fell naturally into drinking habits, 
in which he indulged at the expense of 
his associate. When William Sheffield 
put out his legal shingle, Lord called on 
him, and after a brief interview, told 
him he had an important confidential 
communication to make to him. They 
walked some distance into the forest 
skirting the town- in perfect silence, 
Sheffield menniimo pondering over the 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



153 



supposed gravity of Lord's relation. 
Seating" themselves on a log, Lord opened 
the subject somewhat after the following 
manner : 

"Sheffield, you know you are a young 
man, just setting out in life, and have 
not had as mucli experience in the world 
as I have. 1 know these fellows })retty 
well, and don't want to see you taken in, 
and I thought I might do you great favor 
by telling you on the start what you 
ought to do. Just as fast as you make 
acquaintances here you will be asked to 
drink with them. It is their social cus- 
tom, and they will expect you to treat 
them in return, and it's pretty expensive. 



A'ow, my advice is, that you buy your 
liquor by the gallon, take the jug to your 
office, and whenever you feel obliged to 
treat your friends, just take them to the 
office and treat them there. It won't 
cost a quarter as much as to pay for 
drinks at a grocery. As a matter of 
economy you'll find it a very judicious 
arrangement." 

Lord soon left Napoleon and settled in 
one of the new counties in Michigan. 
He was elected county treasurer, and at 
last accounts had become a man of more 
wealth and influence than many of those 
who laughed at his oddities many years 
Ijefore. 



REV. ROLLA H. CHUBB 



One of the Venerable M. E. Ministers of the 
Maumee Valley 



FEW men in the Maumee Valley were 
better known in JSTorthwestern Ohio 
than Kev. KoUa H. Chubb. Born in 
Poultney, Vt., Sept. IS, 1812, he came 
west with his father at an early age, who 
had charge of an Indian station on Lake 
Superior, where he remained about five 
years, after wliich he accompanied his 
l)rother to jMichigan. When quite young 
he had followed the footsteps of his 
father, joining the M. E. church, was 
admitted to conference, and from that 
time on until about 1867, he was actively 
engaged in the ministry, when he retired 
from active work and was enrolled among 
the superannuated ministers of the con- 
ference. From 1838 to 1855 Mr. Chubb 
was prominent among the itinerant min- 
isters of the M. E. church in the Mau- 
mee Valley, and traveled Wood county 
on a four or six weeks' circuit, when he 
encountered all the perplexing embarrnss- 
ments incident to those early pioneer 



days, and his life and adventures as a 
minister of these swamps, would make a 
volume quite as interesting, and in many 
instances as pathetic or thrilling as a 
romance. There may now be living some 
who remember Rev. RoUa H. Chubb when 
he was young and in his full strength of 
manhood, and all can attest the won- 
derful pulpit oratory with which he was 
endowed. With clear conceptions, strong 
convictions, a retentive memory, and a 
mind to grasp the contents of libraries, 
and that power of language always at his 
command, he l)eeame eminent as a public 
speaker. 

His sonnon preached at Greenwich, 
Huron county, 0., during the war, was 
characteristic of the man, and was widely 
copied in the public journals. He was in 
attendance at the Ft. Meigs celebration 
in 1840, and about that time became 
acquainted with Olive Ewing (sister of 
Judge Ewing), whom he married March 
16, 1841. She died July 14, 1863, at 
Ashland, 0., leaving four children, three 
daugliters, ^Mrs. Emily Peacock, residing 
at Gallatin, Tennessee; Mrs. Maria Bris- 
tol, of Fremont, Ohio; Mrs. W. S. Eberly, 
and one son, Henry, of Perrysburg, Ohio. 
On October 4, 1865, he married Miss 



154 



THE PIONEER 



Mary C. Hamer, of Ottawa, 0., and 
moved back to Perrysburg. His last 
regular appointment was Freeport, in 
1868. He moved to Delaware, 0., in 
1883, to give his children an opportunity 



of attending the college there. He died 
Friday night, Nov. 7, 1884, after a short 
illness, and his remains were brought to 
Perrysburg and interred in Ft. Meigs 
(.•einctcfv. — Wood Counfi/ Republican. 



WOOD COUNTY MASONRY 



History of the Masonic Order in Northwestern 
Ohio for Almost Seven Decades 



IN October, 1907, Grand Eapids cele- 
brated the fiftieth anniversary of its 
Masonic Lodge organization. Grand 
Eapids Lodge had its origin in Wood 
County Lodge No. 112. Among the ex- 
ercises was an address by George A. Bell, 
in which he gave the following interest- 
ing history concerning Freemasonry in 
northwestern Ohio : 

"It is quite probable that the history 
of Freemasonry in northwestern Ohio be- 
gan when xVrmy Lodge, No. 23, spread 
its charter at Fort Meigs, in 1813,' and 
worked there until the fort was aban- 
doned. Next, in 1818, the grand lodge of 
Ohio chartered Northern Light, No. 40, 
at Maumee. This lodge was active until 
1838. A new charter, however, was 
granted in 1845, and the lodge was al- 
lowed to retain its old number. 

"From 1828 to 1842, there was not 
a single Masonic body in 22 counties of 
northwestern Ohio, and strange to relate, 
the first lodge sprang up in the midst 
of tht' Bhiek Swamp of Wood county. 

"In October, 1843, the grand lodge 
chartered Wood County Lodge, No. 112, 
naming Martin Warner, Emelius Wood, 
Morris Brown, Morrison McMillen, James 
Curtis, Leonard Perrin, David Maginnis 
and Sylvester Hatch as charter mem- 
bers. 

"The first home of Wood County Lodge 
was in the second story of the home of 
Emelius Wood, a primitive log house 



which stood — and still stands — upon the 
bank - of Tontogany creek a short dis- 
tance north of the present village of 
Tontogany. It was an ideal location; 
first because it was comparatively cen- 
tral, and, second, you could, as a. rule, 
get there from three different directions 
without swimming your horse. Being at 
the confluence of the two GrL^en Encamp- 
ment trails, the Perrysburg people could 
take the one which left the river at Mil- 
tonville, and the Gilead (Grand Eapidss) 
people could take that which left the 
river a short distance east from South 
Otsego; then, when the five trails joined 
at Wood's, the combined trail went on 
into Plain township. 

"For six years Wood County Lodge 
worked in the loft of Wood's dwelling, 
and then removed to Eaton's Corners- - 
later known as Selkirk's Corners, now 
a part of the city of Bowling Green. 

"Of the Gilead people who took the 
degrees in Wood County Lodge, the first 
was Alvin Gillett, father of Jay L. Gil- 
lett, of Toledo, Emanuel Arnold, John 
Edgar and Omar C. Carr and S. H. 
Steedman. 

"In July, 1856, the five brethren last 
above mentioned, together with Emelius 
Wood, Everett E. Wood and Daniel Bar- 
ton, also of Wood County Lodge, A. J, 
Gardner, of Youngstown, Selah A. Ba- 
con, a past master of New England, No. 
4, of Worthington, Ohio, and Samuel 
Blythe, from Steubenville Lodge, No. 
45, petitioned and received a dispensa- 
tion for a lodge, to be known as Grand 
Eapids Lodge, and to be located at 
Gilead (Grand Eapids), Wood County. 
The dispensation arrived July 31, nam- 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



155 



ing S. A. Bacon as the first senior war- 
den and Alvin Gillett as first junior 
warden. 

"The charter was received jSTovember 
4, 1856, bearing date of October 3, 
and naming S. A. Bacon, A. J. Gardner, 
Alvin Gillett, Emelius Wood, E. E. 
Wood, John P. Nye and Samuel Blythe 
charter members. The three stationed 
officers were named as in the dispensa- 
tion, and the minor officers also held over. 
The officers were installed by E. W. Bro. 
Hez. L. Hosmer, of Toledo. He was a 
prime mover in the organization of Phoe- 
nix Lodge No. 123, of Perrysbarg, of 
Fort Meigs chapter, and of all the Tole- 
do bodies up to 1863, when he was ap- 
pointed chief justice for Montana terri- 
tory, and it is of record that he gathered 
together the Masons of that vast terri- 
tory and instituted lodge, chapter and 
council at Virginia City. 

"Speaking of individual Masons, the 
two pastmasters, who were prime movers 
in the organization of Grand Eapids 
Lodge, S. A. Bacon and Emelius Wood, 
had a remarkable Masonic career. Mr. 
Bacon was born at Granb}^, Conn., in 
1797, and received the Master's degree 
there in 1818; removing to Franklin 
county, Ohio, he affiliated with New Eng- 
land Lodge No. 4, and was for several 
years its master; removing to Henry 
county, half a mile west of this village, 
he assisted, as shown, in the organization 
of this lodge and was for four years its 
master. Mr. Bacon's death occurred in 
March, 1883, he being 86 years of age, 
and for 65 years a Master Mason. 
Emelius Wood was born in 1797, and is 
said to have been the third white child 
born in the old fort at Marietta. He 
was educated at Athens and received the 
degrees in Paramuthia No. 35, in 1818; 
later he went to Somerset, the then 
county seat of the new county of Perry, 
where he served as county surveyor for 
some twelve years. His wife dying in 
1833, he removed in 1834, with his two 



sons, A.. J. and E. E., to Wood county, 
and settled on the bank of Tontogany 
creek, as we have mentioned. Here he 
married a Miss North, and a number of 
children were born, the eldest being the 
well known surveyor, William H. Wood, 
of Bowling Green. Brother Wood was 
a principal mover in the organization of 
Wood County Lodge, was its master in 
1847, 1848 and 1855. He was the first 
justice and the first school examiner of 
Washington township. He died in 1875, 
aged 78, having been a Master Mason for 
57 years. 

"Fifty years to those who are past 
the meridian of life seems but a brief 
period, and yet, looking backward, many 
things may happen in fifty years. In 
1856 the territory of Grand Eapids Lodge 
extended from Fulton Lodge, Delta, on 
the nortli, to Kalida, Putnam county, on 
the south, and east and west from 
Bowling Green to Napoleon. Up to date 
it has given of its territory to Deshler, 
Holgate, Liberty Center, Waterville, 
Tontogany and Weston. That shows 
some change, but let us contemplate 
Wood County Lodge again for a moment; 
it is just 13 years older than Grand 
Eapids lodge. When Wood county was 
constituted, its territory comprised more 
than ten thousand square miles, figuring 
from door to door of nearest lodges, but 
to-day that territory contains 110 lodges 
and more than 13,000 members." 



It is not an exaggerated belief that 
had Hull's arinv, which passed through 
the site of Bowling Green, almost a cen- 
tury ago, been led by a man of the nerve 
of Anthony Wayne, that a portion of 
Canada would to-day be a part of the 
United States. Hidl's disastrous failure 
compelled the few settlers at the Maumee 
Eapids to leave and the whole northwest 
was opened to the merciless raids of 
savages. It was indeed a national calam- 
ity. 



156 



THE PIONEER 



HON. THOS. W. POWELL 



A Veteran Pioneer Lawyer, at One Time 
Identified with Wood County History 



DECEMBER 12, 1882, says the Cleve- 
land Herald, Hon, Thomas W. 
Powell died at his residence in Delaware, 
at the advanced age of eighty-five years. 
For several years he had been almost 
blind. His name stands foremost as one 
of the greatest thinkers of the State. 
The following history was given by Hon. 
James R. Hubble: 

Hon. Thomas W. Powell was born in 
South Wales in 1797. In 1801 he came 
with his parents to America and settled 
in Utica, N". Y., in the Mohawk Valley. 
During the war with Great Britain, al- 
though a mere youth, he drove his fath- 



er's team with the baggage of a regiment, 
to Sacketts Harbor, and in the spring 
of 1813 entered the place at the close of 
the battle. In 1814 he was appointed 
by the military authorities to carrv dis- 
patches to Plattsburg, and at the close 
of that battle entered the town with dis- 
patches to Gen. McCombs. 

In the year 1819 he came to Ohio and 
studied law in the office of Hon. James 
W. Lathrop, at Canton, and in 1820 was 
admitted to the bar. He removed to 
Perrysburg, on the Maumee, where he 
filled successively the offices of Prosecut- 
ing Attorney and County Auditor of 
Wood county. 

In the discharge of his official duties, 
he was noted for his probity and indus- 
try as well as his abilities. In 1830 he 
removed to Delaware, where he resided 
until his death. 



INDIAN JUSTICE 



How a Chief Carried Out the Law of His 
Tribe 



ONEQUIT, a chief of a tribe of In- 
dians that occupied Station Island 
above Waterville, proved to be Judge and 
executioner, as the following incident will 
show, as related by an early settler: 

An Indian, who had been guilty of 
some crime, was brought before Onequit 



for trial. The cause was duly heard 
with Indian solemnity, after which One- 
quit retired, smokng over his delibera- 
tions. The result of this deliberation 
was that the chief took down his rifle 
and shot and killed the convicted red 
man. 

Onequit himself was then brought be- 
fore a magistrate near Miltonville to 
answer for the crime of murder. The 
chief admitted the killing of the Indian, 
but claimed that he had acted only with- 
in the laws of his tribe. On this show- 
ing he was acquitted and released. 



NOTABLE ADDRESSES! 



From Two Commanders That Thrilled the 
Soldiers With Enthusiasm i 



GEN. CLAY and his Kentuckians 
were at Ft. Defiance in April, 1813, 
having followed in Gen. Winchester's 
footsteps, and when he closed a ringing 



denunciation of the British treachery at 
the River Raisin, his men were ready for 
action. Said their general: "Kentuck- 
ians stand high in the estimation of our 
common country. Our brothers in arms 
who have gone before us to the scene 
of action have acquired a fame which 
should never be forgotten by you, a fame 
worthy of your emulation. Should we 
encounter the enemy, remember the fate 




GEN. WM. H. HARRISON 



I 



►SCK'AP-liOOK. 



159 



6/ [lour butchered brothers at the River 
Ramu — that British treachery produced 
their staughter." And the Kentuckians 
ix'membered it. 

Gen. Harrison's Address 

Standing in sight of the battle field of 
Fallen Timber and under the severe can- 
nonade from the British batteries across 
the river, Gen. Harrison thus addressed 
his men, some of whom had fallen wound- 
ed, and others who were fainting and 
tired of the conflict: 

"Can the citizens of a free country, 
who have taken up arms to defend its 
rights, think of submitting to an army 
composed of mercenary soldiers, reluctant 
Canadians, goaded to the field by the 
bayonet, and of wretched, naked savages? 
Can the breast of an American soldier 



wlieu he casts his eyes to the opposite 
sliore, the scene of his country's triumplis 
over the same foe, be influenced by any 
other feeling than the hope of glory ? Is 
not this army composed of the same ma- 
terials with that which fought and con- 
quered under the immortal Wayne? 
Yes, fellow soldiers, your general sees 
your faces beam with the same fire that 
he witnessed on that occasion; and al- 
though it would be the height of ])re- 
sumption to compare himself with that 
hero, he boasts of being that hero's pupil. 
1c your posts then fellow citizens and 
remember the eyes of your country are 
upon you." 

In after years in conversing with a 
friend about the siege of Fort Meigs, he 
said: "It was the greatest speech of my 
life." 



TWO LOST GIRLS 



Thrilling Episode Related by J. F. Dubbs in 
the Early History of the County 



THE following interesting reminiscence 
comes from J. F. Dubbs an esteemed 
pjoneer of Milton Center and was written 
by C. W. Evers: 

In 1836, the old Eevolutionary soldier 
and Missionary, Eev. Joseph Badger built 
a cabin and settled on a ridge at the 
west end of the Wadsworth prairie, over- 
looking the great marsh, stretching out 
miles to the eastward. When, a few 
years after his health failed and he moved 
his family away, the Aacant cabin became 
a sort of rendezvous for counterfeiters, 
and other law-breakers. They were fin- 
ally broken up and driven away. 

In 1851, Nathaniel Badger, nephew of 
the old missionary, came and fixed up 
the cabin, got married and lived there 
a year or so. Nathaniel had a sister 
Stella, a teacher, who lived in Plain 
township. One bright morning in .Tune, 



Stella and a lady cousin from "York 
State," nicely mounted on horseback, 
rode up to our cabin, on the north side 
of the prairie to inquire if it would be 
possible for them to follow the old Indian 
trail straight across to the Badger cabin. 
L was a young man at that time and far 
too much interested in the two nicely 
dressed young ladies to see them try to 
pass over that dangerous miry trail, and 
at once advised them to go around by the 
usual wagon trail, which was of itself 
l)ad enough ; they took my advice. 

That evening my brothers, Lewis and 
John, W. E. Carothers and myself were 
chatting around a mosquito smoke at my 
father's, when, about 9 o'clock we lieard 
some one hallooing in the distance. I 
told the boys of the incident of the morn- 
ing — that two girls had rode over to 
Badger's, wiiich was about two miles from 
our place. Carothers at once said, "that 
is surely a woman's voice"; we started 
at once for the prairie, taking with us 
our two well trained dogs. 

When we got through the woods to the 
prairie we could hear the cries, but very 



160 



THE PIONEER 



indistinctly, away to the east of us; we 
shouted so lustily that we made ourselves 
heard plainly by the lost wanderer, who 
at once turned back toward us. 

Soon the dogs were barking, away out 
in the gloomy waste in a somewliat dif- 
ferent direction. When Lewis and 
Carothers got to them, they found the 
intelligent brutes had done their part well 
and faithfully. As if guided by some in- 
stinct, almost providential, in this case, 
the dogs in some unexplained, or 1 should 
say unexplainable way, had understood 
what we wanted them to do and had done 
it, thereby saving a human life. 

There, in a grassless spot, in the oozy 
mire and water, her head barely above 
the slimy surface, speechless and exhaust- 
ed, was one of the girls — the one from 
New York. She probably could not have 
survived an hour longer. I need not re- 
late our difficulties in getting the poor 
girl out for she was perfectly helpless 
to walk for sometime, even if she had 
been on good ground. 

Soon after, Stella, whose shouts had 
first warned us of their danger, was 
. found, and not long after, brother John 
and I and the dogs found the horses, 
grazing in a place where the water was 
shallow, and got them out to the woods. 

Stella then told us how it all happen- 
ed : They had prolonged their stay at 
Badger's until quite late and then to gain 
time had attempted to make a short cut 
by the Indian trail to our house. The 
trail crossed a neck of prairie about half 
a mile wide; it was here they lost their 
course and went too far east. The 
prairie, at that time of the year, was wet 
in those days; no one who has not seen 
the Wadsworth, or Liberty prairie as we 
sometimes called it, in its natural state, 
before our drainage system went into 
effect, can form any true conception of 
its condition, nor picture to himself the 
magnitude of the change since. The 
water was from one to three feet deep, 
the grass from three to eight feet high; 



a great part of the prairie was swampy. 
It was infested with all sorts of beasts, 
birds and reptiles common to this country 
at that time. Wolves, snakes, turtles, 
frogs, cranes, pumpers, deer flies and last, 
but worst in early summer, Avere the end- 
less swarms of ravenous mosquitoes. 
Then the heavy fogs which curtained this 
gloomy wilderness made the aspect so 
dismal and forbidding that the strongest 
man might well recoil from its treacher- 
ous borders. 

Not long after the horses left the trail, 
they began to swamp down and the riders 
were unseated from their saddles with no 
possibility of mounting, even if it had 
been desirable to do so. In attempting 
to lead the horses the girls had their 
skirts trod on and torn off at the waist 
and were in danger themselves of being 
tramped into the mire by the floundering 
animals. 

By tliis time they had worked so far 
east as to be in about the worst part of 
the swamp, probably not far west of the 
notorious "Stoga Hole." Here the New 
York girl gave up to die. Stella left her 
friend and the horses and started as she 
supposed in the direction of her brother's 
cabin; but how could a woman, wading 
in water to her knees, in coarse rank grass 
higher than her head, blinded by mos- 
(|uitoes and fog, take a course without a 
single landmark to guide her ? She could 
not even see the woods that bordered the 
swamp. Fortunately she steered to the 
woods on the north side, but in a direc- 
tion almost opposite from what she had 
intended, and came out about three- 
fourths of a mile from our house, where 
she was wandering about when her 
screams attracted our attention as prev- 
iously mentioned. After we all got to- 
gether on dry ground, the girls, whose 
deplorable plight was mercifully shielded 
by the darkness, pleaded with us to be 
taken to the Badger cabin, but we per- 
suaded them to go to our house nearer 
by, where they were taken in hand by 



SCKAP-BOOK. 



161 



the women, made as comfortable as pos- 
sible, and next morning were able to con- 
tinue their journey home. 

One of those girls of nearly half a 
century ago, Stella, married Dr. Stephen 
Olney, brother of Professor p]dward 
Olney, of Michigan university, and at 
this time, 1894, is living in widowhood 
in one of the thriving cities of New 
Jersey. Her rosy cheeks of yore are 
faded; her dark hair long since has 
turned gray ; the voice tliat was strong 
enough to carry its pitiful appeal through 
the Cimmerian darkness for help nearly 
a mile awa}', is feeble now; memory too 
fails, Init not the remembrance of that 
dreadful night experience in the "Black 
Swamp" of Wood county. 

In thus imperfectly giving the details 
of this and other incidents, I have sought 
to also convey to the younger generation 
a dim, outline picture of the country as 
the pioneers first found it; also some of 
the inconveniences and hardships met 



with. Each passing day and year in our 
lives has its sore trials, mingled with its 
sunshine and joy. Each country has its 
drawbacks, but I think now, in looking 
l^ack over my three score years' experience, 
and that of my old neighbors here, that 
Wood county's early settlers had more 
than their full share of trials. The 
county was too, from causes only slightly 
alluded to in this narration, in very bad 
repute. This bad name followed it hurt- 
fully for years after, and kept improve- 
ments back until many fell, weary and 
discouraged in the conflict. But all 
honor to the old pioneers, and the new 
ones too; it is different now. Wood coun- 
ty is, at last, the first; and the miry 
swamp, Avhere we found the lost girls, 
groans each recurring autumn under its 
load of golden grain; and the successors 
of those first pioneers would hesitate to 
swap situations with the most favored 
husbandmen in the land. 



THE OLD EXCHANGE BELL 



Something of Its History and What Became 
of It 



ACOKKESPOXDENT of tlie Elmore 
Independent says that in the year 
iSo'^ or 1833, Mr. Jarvis Spaiford built 
a hotel in Perrysburg, and it was a very 
line hotel — even a model one in those 
days, ill order to make it complete he 
had to have a l)ell on top of the house. 
Then' hapiieiied to be a man by the name 
of S. Davis who had a bell foundry in 
Detroit, Micb., then Michigan Territory. 
^Ir. Spatford went to Detroit, saw Mr. 
l)avis and made a contract to cast him a 
ta^■ern bell. For want of material to 
make a bell the desired size, Mr. Spafford 
l)ut in 36 Spanish dollars, which were 
melted and run into the bell. In the 
y;'ar 1834 the bell was cast; the name of 



S. Davis, Detroit, ilichigan Territory, 
and the year, in large, bold letters, ap- 
pear on the bell. After due time Mr. 
Spafford got the bell home, and it was a 
great curiosity there in the wilderness, 
the whole country abounding with In- 
dians and wild animals. However, Mr. 
Spafford had the bell hung up in a tree 
in front of his house, to ring when it was 
time for meals. 

The Indians used to gather around the 
tree to see and hear the bell ring; they 
would even climb up on the tree to get 
hold of it to ring it themselves, to the 
great annoyance of Mr. Spafford and his 
customers, as they supposed meals were 
ready when the bell rang. This annoyed 
I\lr. Spafford so much that he was com- 
pelled to dri\'r the Indians away by force, 
but the}', not being easily scared, came 
one night and stole the bell and carried 
n off to Upper Sandusky, which was the 
headquarters for all the Indians in this 



162 



THE PIONEER 



section of the country in those days. 
When Mr. Spafford missed the bell he 
was much worried, and offered a big re- 
ward for the thief and return of his prop- 
erty. 

As the bell cost him $75, he felt the 
loss of his investment, as well as the en- 
joyment and convenience of it, but he was 
not long in finding the trail of the bell 
from friendly Indians. He secured the 
services of a half-breed, by the name of 
Sam Brady, an old scout, who had killed 
a- many Indians and some white men, as 
any other man in those days. Mr. Frank 
Hollister, the first white man who settled 
at Perrysburg, and bought furs from the 
Indians, knew about all of them, and had 
slept in almost every Indian wigwam on 
the Maumee river. The three started in 
search of the bell, and were three days 
making the trip from Perrysburg to the 
plains of Upper Sandusky, camping out 
every night, with Sam Brady to pilot 
them through. On the morning of the 
fourth day, to their great surprise, they 
heard the sound of the bell, and leaving 
their camp with their scanty breakfast 
half cooked, they struck out fully deter- 
mined to get the bell. After half an 
hour's traveling through the deep grass 
and thick underbrush, with rifle in hand 
to shoot the first Indian they met, they 
came to the missing bell. To their great 
amazement they found it tied around an 
Indian pony's neck, which was considered 
the leading pony of the plains. Mr. Spaf- 
ford says that it did not take Mr. Brady 
long to bring down the pony with his 



rifle, cut the sinew that the bell was fast- 
ened to, and soon shouldered it and 
started back to camp, to finish their 
breakfast of jerked venison and whisky. 

After finishing the meal, they started 
back for home, a happy trio. In the 
meantime they kept a sharp lookout on 
their retreat, but met with no interrup- 
tion, and arrived home safe and whole, 
but worn out by fatigue and hunger, still 
full of glee and "good whisky,^^ 

Mr. Spafford, in order to keep the In- 
dians from stealing the bell again, went 
to Detroit to a blacksmith, and got a 
heavy iron bar, one inch square, made in 
a half circle, with a cross-bar, and hung 
the bell in the circle, spiked it on top of 
his tavern, and the bell hung there until 
the death of Jarvis Spafford, and for 
several years after. The property then 
fell into the hands of Willis Norton, sheriff 
of Wood county, and for a number of 
years he kept the house and bell. Finally 
the hotel business died out and Mr. Nor- 
ton had a good deal of sickness and re- 
verses and left Perrysburg, went west of 
Ft. Wayne, on a small farm, taking the 
bell with him, with the full intention of 
keeping it as long as he lived, but his 
health failed him, necessaries of life were 
hard to get, and getting an offer for the 
old bell from the oldest landlord in 
northern Ohio, who knew the bell ever 
since it was hung upon the old Exchange, 
he concluded to sell it to his old friend, 
D. M. Day, of Elmore, Ottawa county, 
0., whore it can be seen and heard three 
times a day, on top of the Elmore House. 



GEORGE HOPPER 



His Experience with Hardships and Wolves 
in Early Years 



GEORGE HOPPER, an early settler, 
died at his home in Troy town- 
ship, February 7, 1879. He came to this 



country from England, and reached Per- 
rysburg in the year 1836, engaging in the 
service of the firm of Smith & Hollister 
in their large warehouse. He remained 
with them three years, at the end of which 
time he took 160 acres of land in Troy 
township for his pay, on which he made 
his home until his death. 

Mr. Hopper and his wife, like most of 



8CKAr-B()()K. 



163 



the people of that date in Wood county, 
had to put up with hardships and incon- 
veniences, which to this generation of 
people would seem unbearable. Mr. and 
Mrs. Hojjper related as a fact that during 
their first settlement in the woods and 
for years after, they seldom passed a 
night without being disturbed by the un- 
welcome and dismal howl of wolves. 
Sometimes these ravenous brutes would 
come into their door yard and make the 
night a hideous pandemonium. On one 
occasion Mr. Hopper had been to Perrys- 
burg to get some provisions and was be- 
lated and came home unconscious that 



he was pursued until lie entered his cabin 
door, wiioii he heard the brutes jumping 
the fence, and no sooner had he closed 
the door behind him than they opened in 
an unearthly chorus, startling enough to 
make a dead man's hair stand on end. 
This sort of solitary life was continued 
until 18-17, when Sanmel Shreiner moved 
in. he being their first neighbor nearer 
tlian the Gorrills. In all his obligations 
of citizenship Mr. Hopper was a model 
nuin, upright and honest, and commanded 
the respect and esteem of his neighbors 
and all who knew him. — Wood County 
Sentinel. 



A SHAKING SCOURGE 



Chills, Fever and Ague the Result of Malaria 
of the Black Swamp 



NO'J' the least of tlie ills encountered 
by the early settlers in the Black 
Swamp, was the scourge of sickness, 
chiefly fever and ague, which widely pre- 
vailed. These ills were caused by the 
malaria of that day. 

It took from three to five years to get 
acclimated : every year from about the 
first of July until frost and cold made its 
appearance, the people had the ague, and 
they looked for it just as much, and it 
came with the same regularity, as sum- 
mer and fall came. An old pioneer says: 
It took hold of a person and literally 
shook him up. I have seen fellows go to 
bed with the ague, and when the shake 
came on the very bed and floor would 
rattle. So violent was the disease that at 
times their teeth would rattle. 

Many times whole families would be 
down at one time, so that one could not 
give another a drink of water. The ague 
usually came on every other day, and 
when there were not people enough 
they had to have it every day, for some- 
times there appeared to be about two 



agues for one man; and oftentimes they 
had to have it twice in one day. The 
well day as we used to call the day we 
missed it, men would be able to do some 
light work, and it may seem strange, but 
the day the chill was to come on you 
could look out from 10 a. m. until 3 p. 
m., and you could see the boys come in 
to take their shake, as much so as to take 
their dinners. We were not troubled 
much in those days from any disease of a 
malignant form. Aside from the ague, 
we had some bilious, intermittent and re- 
mittent fevers. We had no need of a 
doctor to bleed the patient, for the pesky 
moscjuitocs did all the bleeding that was 
necessary. 

Dr. H. Burritt was the physician ; he 
then lived at Gilead (now Grand liap- 
ids), and he also kept the postoffice. Oh, 
how he used to swear when he had to 
make his way through the woods and 
water, ten, twelve or fifteen miles to see 
his patients. 



The Maumee Valley Historical Asso- 
ciation was organized in 1885 for the 
purpose of perpetuating flic memory and 
preserving the historical places in the 
Maumee Valley. Hon. Morrison E. 
Waite was its first president. 



164 



THE PIONEER 



WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN 



If the Fulton Line Between Ohio and Michi- 
gan Had Been Fixed 



COLONEL JOHN A. SHANNON in- 
dulged in the following probability 
of Perrvsburg's future: 

In 1835 was fought the great ^'Toledo 
War." Gen. Bell, Gen. Brown, Col. 
Van Fleet and many others in and out of 
command of the forces of the state of 
Ohio, and the territory of Michigan, 
marched and counter marched their re- 
spective commands, and performed feats 
of valor and strategy which entitle them 
to a more extended notice than in the 
limits of this history can be accorded 
them. The net purport and upshot of 
the matter was, that the Harris, or pres- 
ent line, between the state of Ohio and 
the territory of Michigan, was adopted. 
This left Toledo in the state of Ohio, and 



lost to Perrysbufg the only opportunity 
she ever had of becoming ultimately a 
great commercial center. 

With Toledo in Michigan, Ohio would 
have been interested in building up Per- 
ry sburg, and it is probable at least, that 
some elfort would have been made to re- 
move the obstructions to navigation, 
known to exist between Toledo and Per- 
rysburg, and that the fostering care of 
the stat-e of Ohio would have accom- 
plished for Perrysburg what the state of 
Michigan afterward accomplished for De- 
troit, under similar difficulties. It is 
probably vain to theorize over this matter 
now, but it certainly does not seem im- 
probable that if the Fulton or southern 
line, between Ohio and Michigan had 
been finally adopted, that Perrysburg 
would have been now a compactly built 
city, from East Toledo to West Bound- 
ary street, with miles of wharves and 
docks, acres of elevators and depots, and 
tens of millions instead of tens of thous- 
ands of dollars of personal property. 



BLOODY WOLF FIGHT 



In Which the Dogs Were Badly Used Up by 
the Vicious Animal 



AN^ issue of the Wood County Sentinel 
in August, 1877, relates an inci- 
dent of a black wolf killed a few days 
prior to that by three dogs near Mr. Wil- 
lison's house in Jackson Prairie. A steer 
had died not far from Willison's place a 
day or so previous, and late in the even- 
ing mentioned, Mr. W. heard dogs fight- 
ing as he supposed, until finally he be- 
came satisfied from the continued bark- 
ing and fierce growls that the dogs, his 
own among tbe number, had some animal 
at bay. He did not go out however, that 
nifi^ht. Next morning Jake Wall's dog 



was found to be so badly chewed up that 
he died that day. The other dogs were 
found to be pretty badly used up also. 
Not far from the carcass of the steer, the 
dead l)ody of a wolf was found, a murder- 
ous looking brute, and near him were 
])U'nty of evidences of a terrible tight l)e- 
tween the black monster and the dogs. 
It is supposed that Wall's dog, which was 
a gamy, powerful creature, after getting 
terribly punished by the wolf, had finally 
got hold of its throat and never let go till 
he had choked it to death. This is the 
first wolf killed in this county for several 
years, and the second instance of the de- 
struction of a black wolf, and tlie only 
instance we ever heard of dogs in open 
battle attacking and killing a full grown 
wolf. It is supposed there were two 
wolves, but that the other got away. They 
usually travel in pairs. 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



165 



THE DEVIL'S HOLE" 



An Almost Impenetrable Bog What Was 

the Origin of the Name? 

Is It a Den? 



A WEBSTER township eorrospondent 
wrote the Perrysbiirg Journal as 
follows : 

"During tlie year 1813 or "1 1 a period 
when the BUiek Swamp was yet a 'how- 
ling wildiTiU'ss." well covered by water 
and oecnpiml l)y Indians, wolves, bears, 
raccoons and wildcats, there was a low, 
wet swampy bog, extending from a por- 
tion of Wood connty where the Fenton 
P. 0., now is, to a point in Middleton, 
lately known as the Devil's Hole Prairie 
— it being a portion of country exceed- 
ingly difficult to penetrate owing to the 
depth of water and massive growth of 
timber, through which were numerous 
windfalls that served to render the pro- 
gress of tlie ]iedestrian very difficult and 
quite uncertain. 

"At the time mentioned Gen. Harrison 
came plunging through the wilds of San- 
dusky and Wood counties on his march 
to Fort Meigs, and while passing through 
the portion of Wood county near where 
this swamp was located, a scout, whose 
name the writer is not in possession of, 
while on ilie alert for the terror of the 
forest — the nol)l(' I'ed man — became en- 
tangled in this man-trap, and oidy 
after a day's persistent effort did he suc- 
ceed in finding the trail of his brave 
commander, after wliicli li" soon cuiii'iit 
up with the c(mimand. Upon being in- 
terrogated as to where he had been, he 
replied that he had got lost in the "Devil's 
Hole," asserting that he had truly dis- 
covered the home of Satan, and in this 
trifling manner (although undoubtedly 
appreciated at the time) originated tlie 
name so long attached to what is now one 
of the most prosperous and prolifie por- 
tions of this countv; a localitv tliat has 



outgrown its bad name; that has been 
changed from a dreary wilderness to an 
enterprising farming community." 

The late" :Mr. C. W. Evers, however, 
claimed that the name was first given to 
that locality by the late IMahlon Meeker. 

Is It a Den? 

The Sentinel, in an issue in Septend)er, 
1872, indicates that the place may have 
been used by a band of marauders. It 
says: 

Buried in the heart of the tlense woods 
some miles to the northeast of this place, 
known as the "Devil's Hole," two men 
recently discovered a small, low built 
shanty, covered with bark and entirely 
obscure from the vision of man or beast 
by the dense undergrowth, at no greater 
distance than ten paces. It is off from 
any road and there is a single path lead- 
ing to and from it. Just behind it a hole 
has been dug for water, and near it are 
troughs cut in a log as if for the purpose 
of feeding horses. Some hay inside in- 
dicates that men have slept there, and 
there has also been a fire kept in it. 
Everything about it denotes that the ut- 
most precautions of secrecy have been 
tctken. From its location and other cir- 
cumstances, persons living nearest the 
locality are suspicious that it is a rendez- 
vous or stopping place for horse-thieves. 
C'ertainlv there seems some coloring for 
such a supposition. 



It has hti'ii well said that Thomas 
Jefferson was more than the author of 
our Declaration of lndi'))en(lence in 
177(); he. more than any American, laid 
down the basis of popular liberty. 

There is r.ot a city in i\t'ntucl<y, there 
is not a ])lace in all Ohio that diil not 
hasten to the aid of Ft. Meigs nearly a 
century ago. And all these cities and 
towns have an atjiding intt'rest in these 
historic grounds. 



IGG 



THE PIONEER 



TOM LONG 



A Noted Horsethief of This Region Who Died 
in the Ohio Penitentiary 



FEOM the Blade of July 18, 1873, re- 
garding this noted criminal, we 
quote the following: 

Among the names of those mentioned 
by telegraph in Thursday evening's 
Blade, as having died of cholera in the 
penitentiary at Columbus, was that of 
Thomas Long, sent from Wood county. 
Long was a noted horsethief, and was 
serving out his fourth term in the peni- 
tentiary, although but just in the prime 
of life. Perhaps no man in the country 
was more familiar with the "runways" 
of horsethieves than he. His range was 
very extensive, reaching from Central 
Ohio through Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. 
It is said that he would start from his 
home in Wyandot county, and make a 
through trip to Council Bluffs, stealing 
horses and selling them as fast as possi- 
l)le. The last horse which he stole was 
taken from a man by the name of 
Wilson, living near Portage, Wood 
county, when he also stole a buggy from 
a Mr. Eoller, living in Portage. This 
occurred in 1865. He was accompanied 
on this trip by his brother. The latter 
was first captured and taken to jail. 
Tom, who had escaped arrest, although 



hotly pursued by Sheriff Evers, learning 
that his brother was in jail, wrote him a 
letter from some point out west, stating 
that he would visit the imprisoned 
brother. This letter fell into the hands 
of the sheriff, and he was on the alert. 

Finall}^, after the sheriff had about 
abandoned all hope of securing Tom, two 
men, one of them a well known citizen 
of Wood county, called at the jail and 
expressed a desire to see a prisoner. The 
present sheriff', Mr. C. C. Baird, was then 
jailor, and he at once sent for the sheriff. 
On the arrival of Sheriff Evers, he readily 
identified the stranger as Tom Long, ar- 
rested him and locked him up with his 
brother. Both were convicted and Tom 
was sentenced to the penitentiary for 
twelve years, while his brother got off with 
ten 3'ears. He had, therefore, served out 
but two-thirds of his time when he died. 

Tom Long was a cool, sharp and cun- 
ning horsethief. He was quiet, inoffen- 
sive to all appearances, and was highly 
esteemed l)y those acquaintances who 
knew nothing of his secret history. With 
criminal law he was quite familiar and 
studied it even after his conviction, evi- 
dently not for a moment thinking of 
changing his habits on emerging from 
the penitentiary. With his arrest and 
conviction, a large gang of horsethieves 
was broken up, some of them escaping to 
Canada, and now believed to be engaged 
in running stolen horses across the upper 
end of the lake. 



PORTER-RICHARDSON MURDER 



Capture, Trial and Conviction of George 
Porter Hung at Fort Meigs 



TVIK death of so notorious a man as 
Ivichardson., and the sudden and 
violent manner of his taking off while sit- 
ting in the midst of his family, startled 
and shocked the dwellers by the Maumee. 



The news of the tragedy spread from the 
rapids to the lake in a few hours. 

Porter, who made no concealment of 
what he had done, from the first an- 
nouncement of the murder, seems to 
have been connected with the deed in the i 
minds of the settlers in the immediate | 
neighborhood who knew of the previous 
unfortunate st^te of business with Eich- 
ardson. But f^s the effect of the Avhisky 
(lied out and reflection and reason re- 



SCKAP-BOOK. 



167 



turned^ lie began to realize what ho had 
done; the instinct of fear took possession 
of him and he fled, he hardly knew 
whither nor from whom nor what. He 
wandered about in the forests like a rest- 
less wild beast. 

Great search was made for him but 
without success until the third day when 
he came out and delivered himself up to 
Sherifi' Webb not far from the river ford 
below Miltonville. He told Mr. Webb 
that it seemed the happiest moment of 
his life when he had delivered himself 
up and no longer felt that he was pur- 
sued. He made no denial of the murder. 
He said it was the only thing left for him 
to do to redress his grievances, and ad- 
mitted that he ought to 2)ay the penalty 
with his life. 

He was confined in the old log jail at 
Perrysburg for trial. The supreme court 
was in session with Peter Hitchcock and 
Judge Brash on the bench. 

The prisoner had a right to trial in the 
common pleas court if he preferred, 
which would have deferred his trial some 
months, but he seemed indifferent 
whether any defense was made at all. 
He became penitent and zealously relig- 
ious. 

The following are the names of the 
grand jurors impanelled, there being 16 
in all instead of 15 as now, and not one 
of whom to our knowledge is living to- 
day, the late Eber Wilson, who was fore- 
man, being the last survivor: 

Nathaniel Jenison, Samuel Spafford, 
William Bigger, Eber Wilson, James 
Wilkinson, William Houser, Amasa An- 
drews, George W. Bennetts, Silas Barnes, 
David Mills, Hartman Loomis, Willard 
Gunn, John G. Forbes, Joshita Chappel, 
J. C. Adams, David Purdue. 

Thomas W. Pow^ell, now of Delaware, 
Ohio, was the prosecuting attorney, and 
Orish Parish and David Higgins (after- 
ward Judge Higgins) were assigned to 
the defense of the prisoner. The coun- 
sel for the state had of course no difficulty 



in proving the murder and tbat George 
Porter was the murderer, but the counsel 
for the prisoner set up the plea of in- 
sanity and urged it with much vigor, ad- 
ducing as the strongest evidence the con- 
duct of the prisoner to and after the 
murder and his behavior in jail and in- 
difference as to his fate. In rebuttal of 
this position of the defense, the state 
adopted the theory — (We give J\:well's 
own laitguage) : 

"That eveiy person is responsible for 
his acts, whenever lie acts upon actual 
facts and real cireuinsiances. That all 
that I'ortei- chiinied as motives for his 
acts — the injuries and insults received 
from Bichardson — were all founded upon 
actual facts and real circumstances. 
There was no delusion or unreal facts 
about this case. Whatever motives ac- 
tuated him, they were like all the ration- 
al acts of mankind, founded upon real 
facts and actual circumstances." 

The court took this vIl'w of tlie case 
and charged tiie jury accordiugly and 
Porter was convicted. 

The names of the jurors selected from 
a panel of 30 men, none of whom are now 
living, were as follows : 

Robert Shaw, Pahner Ivellogg, Jolm 
M. Jaquis, Aurora Shatford, Peuben 
Freshwater, Flijah Huntniglnn. S'well 
Gunn, Thonui> Learning. Xalhaniel 
Decker, Xnowlton Young, Xathaniel 
Blinn and Andrew Hoover. 

The sentence of the court was that he 
be hung on Fri(hiy, the .5tli day of the 
following November. There was a great 
deal of public sympathy shown for Por- 
ter. He had to be sure, taken the life of 
a fellow man, but that man was a notori- 
ously bad man and tlie deed had been 
done under tlie most provoking circum- 
stances. Poi-ter was crushed and broken 
in spirit and had no inlluential friends to 
intercede for him, a thing he was too 
dispirited to do for himself, even if he 
had his liberty. The means of communi- 
cating with the executive were long and 



lliN 



THE PIOXEER 



tedious, beside there were no good 
grounds, assuming tlie court's charge to 
the jury to be correct, upon which to base 
a petition asking the clemency of the 
governor. Mr. Webb, a man of kind and 
humane disposition, formed quite a 
strong attachment and kindly feeling to- 
ward the prisoner on account of his 
reconciled and submissive conduct, and 
it taxed his utmost resolution of mind 
to reconcile sympathy and duty. 

Porter was hanged on the west slope 
of the ravine on the east side of Old Fort 



Meigs in the presence of a great number 
of people who had assembled to witness 
the sad spectacle. His body was buried 
in the little burying ground just west of 
the Perry sburg jail. 

Whatever may have been the sympathy 
for Porter, or however much his claim 
to executive clemency, the execution no 
doubt had a salutary effect. Nothing is 
so much calculated to restrain crime as 
the certainty that punishment and the in- 
exorable exec-ntion of the law will f()l!o\v. 
—G. W. E. 



SIMON GIRTY 



Something of the History of That Daring, 
Treacherous Outlaw 



FEOM the columns of a copy of the 
old Toledo Commercial, we clip the 
following : 

There are few localities in the State 
of Ohio more fertile in historic reminis- 
cences than Henry county. About five 
miles up the river from Napoleon is 
wbat is known as Girty's island, so 
called from the fact of its having been 
the abiding place of that notorious white 
renegade, Simon Girty, whose treatment 
of white captives was more inhuman and 
fiendish than even that of the red sav- 
ages by whom he had been reared from 
early childhood. The history of Simon 
(lirty is familiar, no doubt, to thousands, 
but there are features in the family 
record of the Girty family that always 
afford fresh food for conjecture. The 
family in general was shiftless and ne'er 
do well. There were four brothers, 
Thomas, Simon, George and James. 
Each was adopted by an Indian tribe, 
Simon by the Senecas, the most warlike 
of all the great Iroquois confederacy. 



Simon Girty and Simon Kenton were at 
one time scouts together, and perhaps 
the only humane or kindly act in Girty's 
life was his intercession for Kenton's life 
in one instance where he had been cap- 
tured, tortured and sentenced to death 
by the Indians. Girt}', however, after 
having in every conceivable manner an- 
tagonized both Indians and whites by 
his multiplicity of inhuman and treach- 
erous acts, was compelled to seek refuge 
and concealment in the territory now 
embraced in what is known as Henry 
county. Ho had wantonly and indis- 
criminately murdered and pillaged right 
aiul left until he became a hunted fugi- 
tive, a veritalde Avanderer on the face of 
the earth. He eventually sought safety 
in the famous '*Black Swamp" of the 
northwest, and here opposite the island, 
on the bank of the Maumee, he erected 
his cabin, and whenever danger would 
menace him, would retire into the dense- 
ly wooded swamp, where it Avas absolute- 
ly impossible to dislodge him. How long 
he remained here, is not definitely known, 
or whetlu'r his death was the result of 
the infirmities incident to old age, or more 
tragic in its character. He was unques- 
tionably one of the boldest and at the 
same time most treacherous and inhu- 
man outlaws of which American history 
has anv record. 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



169 



WAYNE'S TWO GRAVES 



Mad Anthony Wayne's Burial Places — Story 
of His Bones 



THE Bult'alo Ivvprcss gives tlie follow- 
ing remarkable incident touching 
till' disi)osition of Mad Anthony's body: 

(ien. Wayne is one of the few famous 
nu'u who have two graves, each equally 
entitled to commemoration. He died 
of gout at Erie. Pa., then Fort Presque 
Isle, in 17 UG, when he was on his return 
from his successful Indian campaigns 
in the northwest. He was buried at the 
foot of the flagstaff in the fort, and there 
lay undisturl)ed for nearly twenty years. 
Tlu-n there came through the woods froni 
the other end of the State, in a sttlky, 
liis son in search of his father's bones. 
He engaged Dr. John C. Wallace, who 
had l)een through the Indian wars with 
(it'll. Wayne, to exhume his bones, and 
])ack them in a box, that they might be 
strapped to the sulky and taken through 
tlie woods and over the mountains to 
the family residence in Chester county. 
When Dr. ^^'allace opened the grave he 
found, to his great surprise, the body in 
an alnmst ]K'rfect state of preservation. 
Tlie flesh liad not decayed. But it was 
im])ossil)le foi- young Wayne to carry the 
cotlin and contents in his sulky. So Dr. 
Wallace, who seems to have been devoid 
of feeling as one of the Indians whom he 
fought, decided, on his own motion, 
and without consulting Mr. Wayne, 
to separate the General's bones from 
their enveloping flesh and thus enable 
tliem to ])e removed. 

To accom])]ish this, hoilirg had to be 
resorted to, and the bones were then 
denuded of flesh by the use of knives, 
and were ])acked and carried away by 
young Wayne, and buried near the home- 
stead in which Gen. Wayne was born and 
in wliicli Ills descendants still live. Tliis 
account of the ghoul-like proceedings of 



Dr. W'alUuc has an incredible sound, but 
it is literally and strictly true, and will 
lie ( on'oboratinl by any old citizen of 
Erie. Young i\Ir. Wayne knew nothing 
of Dr. Wallat'c's operations until many 
years aflei-. lie was then greatly shocked 
and de'clarcil that he would never have 
permitted such treatment of his father's 
remains, hut would have returned them 
lo the grave and postponed their removal 
to a more convenient season. Yet there 
is no reason to doubt that Dr. Wallace, 
who was a useful and prominent man 
in his day. thought he was doing every- 
thing for the best, and meant no dis- 
respect to the mortal jiart of liis old 
friend and ])atit'nt and armv comrade. 
General Wayne. 

Over the General's bones, in Chester 
county, a monument was raised. But 
his flesh was returned to its grave at 
the foot of the flag-staff, in Fort Presque 
Isle, by Dr. Wallace, and forgotten. The 
fort — a mere stockade — crumbled away, 
the tiag-stalf decayed, and the precise lo- 
cation of the grave was lost. 

Some four years ago, however, a digger 
for relics on the site of the old fort, un- 
earthed a coftin-cover, into which l)rass- 
headed nails had been so driven as to 
form the initials "A. W.'' with the figures 
of Wayne's age, date of his death, etc. 
This determined the location of the grave, 
and there has since been in Erie a feel- 
ing that it should be marked by a monu- 
ment of some sort. It has, in fact been 
surrounded by chains, supported by four 
pieces of superannuated artillery, and 
also marked by a flag-staff, but something 
more permanent is desired, and will 
doulitless be built — ^if not by legislative 
aid. then by local subscription. 



The last tribe of Indians to remove 
from Ohio was the Wyandot of Upper- 
Sandusky, who ceded their lands in 
1812, and tlu' following year left for 
the west. 



170 



THE riOXEER 



BURNING OFF A PRAIRIE 



How the Flames Swept the Grass for Many 
Miles 



HEEE is an incident in Middleton 
township history published in the 
Sentinel in 1883: 

James Robertson came from Scotland 
and located in the eastern part of Mid- 
dleton township in 1836. One morning 
after he had selected the land for his 
future home, Mr. Robertson and two of 
his sons started from Perrvsburg for their 
land for the purpose of selecting a build- 
ing site, with a horse and wagon, hauling 
a tent and some other material. They 
came by a blazed wagon track and pitched 
their tent in the edge of Htdrs Prairie, 
arriving just at sundown. About 15 
minutes after they had arrived at their 
destination they were startled by the 
sudden appearance of five Indians on 
horseback, who had followed up their 



trail, and tbe Indians seemed as much 
surprised as they. After surveying the 
situation a moment the Indians gave the 
Rol:>ertsons to understand their mission 
was to "scotto,"" that is to bum off the 
prairie. They then proceeded about 
three miles to the southwest, touched fire 
to the grass which had not been burned 
for two years. The flames spread like 
the wind and Mr. Amelius Robertson 
states that it did not seem over ten 
minutes before it had traveled the in- 
tervening distance between where it was 
set and the edge of the woods where they 
were encamped, and that the smoke al- 
nu)st suffocated them in their tent. He 
also says that the flames went nearly as 
high as the trees, and that the streets 
of Perrysburg 5 1-2 miles distant were 
so lighted by the fire that they could see 
to pick up a pin, and that all the grass 
on Hull Prairie covering hundreds of 
acres, was licked up by the flames in 
twenty minutes. Mr. Robertson built a 
cabin on his land the next spring, 1837, 
and moved in with his familv. 



A HUNTER'S PARADISE 



Forests of the Black Swamp Abounded in 

Game- How a Savage Old Boar 

Was Captured 



IX a communication to the Tribune, Mr. 
J. F. Dubbs says: 
Wild hogs were very plentiful in the 
forests, but while they afforded the set- 
tlers a temporary resource at times, to 
replenish the pork barrel, they were at 
other times not only troublesome, but 
dangerous neighbors. They would mingle 
with tame hogs in the woods and toll 
them away often, where the tame ones 
would soon be as wild as their forest kin. 
Then too, if man or beast should sud- 
denly come upon a band and disturb 



them in their bed or disturb the young, 
every hog would instantly become a 
savage, bristling, furious assailant and 
the intruder was lucky if he happened 
to be near a tree which he coitld climb 
quickly. Among the bands that roamed 
thf woods was one enormous 

Savage Old Boar 

With murderous tusks, which was alike 
a terror to hunters and dogs. This dan- 
gerous brute — a veritable king of the 
forests — was as wily and cunning as a 
bear, but like all kings and rulers, all 
his ways were not the paths of wisdom. 
He got a notion of slipping in nights 
and lodging with the iKtbbs herd till the 
chickens crowed in the morning, when he 
would rise, shake himself and join his 
wild brethren in the forest. 

The Diil)l)S discovered what was sroing 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



171 



on^ and at the time there was quite a 
strife in the settlement as to who should 
be the lucky captor of the big boar. One 
morning the Dubbs, father and sons, 
with their two dogs, stole a march on 
the old woods patriarch, and as he passed 
out the dogs were turned loose, and after 
a sharp race his hogship came to bay 
and faced the dogs. When the men came 
up the brute again fled, but the dogs at 
once fastened on him; one dog laid hold 
at the elbow of the fore shoulder; the 
other at the ear; the latter was instantly 
hurled into the air with a ghastly slash 
across its throat from which the blood 
poured in a stream. The other dog, a 
powerful fellow, was able to stop the 
boar, and the brute could not reach him 
with its deadly tusks. 

Neatly Captured 

By this time, Henry Dubbs, James' 
father, a stout resolute man, came up, 
furious at the fate of his faithful dog, 
and seized the boar by its long tail and 



at once took a turn around a small sap- 
ling whore he could easily hold the hog. 
The plan was to capture, confine and 
JV'cd the boar until he was fat; at that 
tinu' Mr. l)ttbl)s' sou, John, came up, 
the hug was tied and thrown, his nose 
lasliL'd, his tusks cut off, after which he 
was hauled in on a stone boat, and im- 
prisoned in a high, strong log pen. 

When lie found he could not escape, 
his gnashing of teeth and hideous aspect 
was startling to witness, but in all the 
scrap from first to last not a cry or 
squeal did he make, except enraged 
grunts. For days the old fellow would 
not eat; then he would eat in the night. 
At last he began to gain, and though 
when butchered and sold at Perrysburg 
he was not fat, yet he was a monstrous 
big porker. 

These wild hogs are supposed to ha\"e 
sprung from strays from some of tlie 
army quartermasters' droves brought 
here in the war of 1812. They were 
qtiite numerous here from 1830 to 1843. 



REMOVING THE INDIANS 



Gathered from Many Points Mission Station 
on the Maumee River 



AN old pioneer, writing to the Sen- 
tinel, says: 
Between the years 1835-40, the Govern- 
ment began to move the Indians to their 
reservations in the West and the tribes 
becoming broken up, were scattered over 
a large portion of Northwestern Ohio 
and Northeastern Indiana, and part of 
Michigan, reaching from Ft. Wayne, In- 
diana, to Sandusky, Ohio, and including 
Crawford county, which was named after 
Colonel Crawford who was so brutally 
butchered and murdered at the stake by 
Simon Girty (a white man), after having 



been deserted and left by General Knight, 
who made his escape and left Colonel 
Crawford to suffer because of his. 
Knight's, treachery. 

The tribes and parts of tribes that 
used to inhabit this part of the country, 
were the Ottawas, Pottawatomies, Kick- 
apoos, Shawnees, Wyandots and Miamis. 
After General Harrison's victory at Fort 
Meigs, and the treaty was effected and 
peace was declared again, many of them 
remained and they were considered 
friendly, and indeed were so as the old 
settlers well know. A mission station 
was made on the Maumee river; Rev. 
Isaac Van Tassel was sent as a mission- 
ary to preach to them, and I believe he 
taught school among them for a while. 
The largest settlement as I remember, 
was in Sandusky county, and the largest 
in Wood countv was at the station and 



172 



THE PIONEER 



at Tontogaiiy. which is an Indian name 
and I think named after one of their 
chiefs. They iiad one small settlement 
on Bea^"cl■ creek in Henry county, and 
a few stragglers were camjjed for a while 
in Milton townshij), this county. In the 
fall they would go from their camps in 
Sandusky, Seneca and Wyandot counties, 
to Wood and Henry counties to camp 
out for tlie winter and liunt, and when 
the spring would o])en they Avould return 
again with their pelts and furs taken 
during the winter season. In the sum- 
mer they woukl resort to the rivers and 
lakes where they could fish, that heing 
their favorite and pi-incipal diet during 
til" Slimmer months. 

H. L. Hosmer's Account 

The remnant of the ^laumee Ottawas 
were at this time assembled at Button- 
wood island, a mile above Perrysburg, 
preparatory to removal to the country as- 
signed them west of the Mississippi. 
Eobert A. Forsyth was entrusted by the 
Government ^^itli the undertaking. The 
Indians made a pleasant camp on the 
island for a month or more, and were 
visited daily Ijy the citizens of the towns 
below. They had been sadly demoralized 
by intercourse with the whites; but a 
few of their chiefs and leaders retained 
enough of the old ancestral spirit to in- 
spire them with considerable energy and 
enterprise after they Avere settled in their 
new home. Ottoca, the head chief, was 



a fat, good-natured fellow, a favorite 
with his tribe and very social with the 
whites. His half-brother, Noteno, was 
greatly his superior in executive ability, 
and at this time probably the most in- 
telligt'nt ]naii among them. Petonguet, 
a tall, slender graceful man, with fea- 
tures of a J^oman cast had been the hero 
of a tragedy some years before in the 
neighl)orhood of Eoche de Boeuf. He 
was much esteemed for bravery and very 
popular with his tribe. But a hundred 
in all remained of this once powerful 
l)eoj)lt', and they were "like strangers in 
a desert home." A day or two after the 
tornado, Ottoca, while passing the ruins 
of the hotel, remarked, with significant 
gesticulation : 

"White man's shanty — no good — too 
big — he all whish when the big wind 
come." 

After their removal these Indians aban- 
doned their habits of savage life, engaged 
in agriculture, adopted civilized customs, 
and became a substantial, orderly com- 
munity. They accumulated property, 
erected schools and churches, and to-day 
I believe they are regarded by the people 
of Kansas as among their most quiet, 
law-abiding citizens. Eev. Peter Jones 
was their leading clergyman, and he was 
a lineal descendant of Pontiac, who little 
more than a century before was King of 
all the country from the Maumee to 
Mackinaw, and disputed inch by inch its 
s:'ttlement t)v the whites. 



NAVIGATION 



Ship Building at an Early Date on the River 
at Maumee and Perrysburg 



AT a Pioneers' meeting held at Fort 
Meigs, in 1880, Charles E. Bliven 
gave an address, from which we glean 
the following facts regarding ship build- 



ing on the Maumee river. He says: 
A small steamer, called the Phenome- 
non, remodeled from a canal boat, was 
built at Eochester, N. Y., in 1834, and 
brought to the Maumee river, being 
towed through Lake Erie in 1836. She 
was then called the Sun and was com- 
ma]ided by C'apt. C. K. Bennett. 

Old records reveal the fact that many 
vessels were built on the Maumee river. 
Among them the Detroit, 240 tons, was 




^^g^^ 



BURIAL GROUND OF COL. DUDLEY AND HIS MEN 

On May II. 181 3, the Bodies of Col. Dudley and About 1 30 Kentuckians Were Brought to Ft. Meigs and 
There Buried. They Were Massacred Six Days Before 



S('1L\1'-P>()0K. 



175 



built at Toledo in 183-t; Don Quixote, 
80 tons, in 1836; Indiana, 431 tons, in 
1839. 

At Delaware creek, the Chesapeake, 
410 tons, in 1838. 

At ]\laumee vessels were built as fol- 
lows: Miami, in 1838; Gen. Harrison, 
293 tons, in 1839; James Wolcott, 80 
tons, in 1840; St. Troy, 547 tons, in 
1845; G. P. Griffith, 587 tons, in 1846; 
Albion, 132 tons, in 1848; Minnesota, 
749 tons, in 1851-2; Globe, 380 tons, 
in 1843. 

At Pen-ysburg the following were 
built: Commodore Perry, 382 tons, in 



1834; Anthony Wayne, 390 tons, in 
1837; Wabash, 44 'tons, and Marshall, 
51 tons, in 1838; Gen. Vance, 75 tons, 
in 1839; St. Louis, 618 tons, in 1844; 
Superior, 507 tons, in 1845 ; John Hollis- 
ter, 300 tons, in 1848; Samson, the first 
propeller built on Lake Erie, 250 tons, 
in 1842; Princeton, in 1854, and the 
Maumcc Valley, in 1862-3, which was 
the last vessel ))uilt there. 

The Griffith, built at Perrysburg, it 
will l)e remembered by our older citizens, 
A\as destroyed by fire on the lake, and a 
number of her passengers perished in 
the disaster. 



FREEDOM TOWNSHIP 



Names of Early Settlers Township Organ- 
ized and Named by Hiram Pember 



IN the year 1833, Isaac Cable and his 
three sons, Silas, Benjamin and 
Jonathan, also Michael Miller and 
Michael Myers, from near Canton, Stark 
county, Ohio, settled at New Eochester. 
Almost at the same time a party of 
settlers, among whom were Henry Nail- 
er, Michael N. Myers, Christian Shelley, 
Ashael Powers, Henry Hahn, and several 
others came in from Lorain county and 
settled at Pemberville and above on the 
north fork of the river. 

Most of the lands below the forks had 
been bought up by speculators, but most 
r of the settlers at that time, could get 
good lands near the river at government 
price, $1.25 per acre. Wood county was 
at that time in the Delaware land dis- 
trict. The Pembers came the next year. 
James Pember had previously married 
the daughter of Ashael Powers, which 
circumstance, no doubt, was the cause 

Pof his locating in Wood county, as his 
father-in-law was the chief landed pro- 
prietor of what is now Pemberville. 
They encountered untold hardships at 



first, and indeed for a long time, chills, 
shaking ague and intermittent fevers 
visited them each year, and at times 
there were not enough persons in the 
settlement to take care of the sick. But 
still they hoped for a better day, and 
kept courage and faith. 

Late in the fall of 1834, there were 
barely enough able abodied men to raise 
a log school house at the Forks. At 
this raising, a petition was drawn up 
and signed, asking the commissioners for 
a separate township organization. Mr. 
Hiram Pember, who now lives in Pem- 
berville, and whom we hope may be 
spared many years yet, gave the town- 
ship its name. 

At the following December session, 
the commissioners, Guy Nearing, James 
Wilkinson and John Pray, and John C. 
Spink, Auditor, heard the petition, and 
ordered the townslii]i set off in a separ- 
ate organization, and that an election be 
held at the house of Michael N. Myers, 
the first Monday of the following April. 
Freedom at that time was a part of Per- 
rysburg towiiship. It is in date of organ- 
ization, tlie sixth township in the coimty. 

Troy and Montgomery townships were 
organized at the same time, and held 
their first election on the same day. — 
C. W. Evers in Log Cabin Sketches. 



176 



THE PIONEER 



AN ATHLETE 



Battered Badly by a Mob of Stalwart aid 
Raffian Irishmen 



UNCLE GUY NEARING took a sub- 
contract from Contractor Beebe, 
on the Miami and Erie Canal. Con- 
tractor Beebe drew the money and ap- 
propriated it to his own use. He failed 
to pay Nearing, who was thereby ruined, 
having mortgaged his property. While 
his canal work was going on he became 



involved in a difficulty with some of the 
canal men, and while passing up the river 
with a team he was attacked by seven 
Irishmen with clubs. He whipped five 
of them, but had seven of his ribs broken 
and dislocati'd from the backbone, from 
the effects of which he died about a year 
after, in 1840. Before being taken down 
with the fever at Providence, he had 
nuide great preparation to take part 
in the big Harrison gathering at Fort 
Meigs. He had a buckeye log cut on 
Girt/s Island above Napoleon. The log 
was of large size and 50 feet long, which 
he sjnt to Fort Meigs. 



BITTEN BY A SNAKE 



After a Physician's Failure the Victim Cured 
by an Indiam 



IX tl)e year LS-iU, Antliony Ewing, a 
young lad, was bitten by a snake, and 
was badly poisoned. Doctor Conant of 
Maumee, was sent for, who came up to 
Waterville, and called for a guide to take 
him across the river over the Rapids. 
Noah Reed, then a boy, mounted a pony 
and brought the Doctor over. The boy 



was most terribly swollen and spotted, 
and Dr. Conant failed to give any relief. 
About this time an old Indian came over 
from the Indian village opposite. The 
Indian proposed to cure the lad for a 
gallon of whisky, and his proposition Avas 
readily agreed to. The Indian soon be- 
gan to gather some herbs, and adminis- 
tered his restorative to the boy. The 
cure was a sttccess. But the Indian con- 
cealed his operations in eifecting the cure 
from the white medicine man. Dr. Con- 
ant afterwards gave the Indian three gal- 
lons of whisky for his recipe. 



THE MAUMEE RIVER 



The Grand and Picturesque Stream Not What 
It Once Was 



THE glory of the Maumee with its 
pirogues, boatmen and fur traders; 
its Indian hunters and trappers with 
their canoes, peltries, pappooses and 
squaws, is a thing of the past. Even the 
sturgeon, muscalonge and ponderous cat- 
fisli of other days arc gone, and the waters 
of the old river, whose name is rich in 
Indian romance and historic lore — on 
whose banks the honor of our nation's 



flag and the fate of the great northwest 
liung in tlie balance, amid the clash of 
arms and roar of cannon, is now polluted 
and muddy from vast black alluvial de- 
posits sent in by the interminable cordon 
and net work of artificial water courses 
and ditches tributary to its channel. It 
is no longer its natural self. It is a 
destructive, raging, mad torrent to-day; 
to-morrow its naked rocks and unsightly, 
slimy bed scarce deserve the name of 
river. 

its pi'iniitive glory has gone and the 
i-!'(()llcci idiis of the river, as our fathers 
saw it, survive onlv as a memory. — C 
W. E. 



SCHAP-BOOK. 



177 



SIMON KENTON 



Probably No Frontiersman Had Ever Passed 
Through so Many Dangers 



IX the editorial correspondence of the 
Sentinel in June, 1876, we find the 
following from Eush Sylvania: 

Not far from this town is Rush Lake, 
and not far from that is the head waters 
of the Scioto and Mad rivers. Near by, 
too, the Auglaize, the head source of the 
Maumee, starts on its tortuous course to 
Lake Erie. It was on a high peak on 
this divide where Wayne's faithful scouts 
lay secreted and discovered the massing 
of the Indian forces under Little Turtle, 
to crush Mad Anthony, then marching 
his army to the Maumee country, as he 
had previously done to St. Clair. The 
wily chieftain, however, never got an op- 
portunity to ambush Wayne, nor ever 
caught him napping. 

Near by, too, is the site of the old 
Indian town of Wappatomica, now 
Zanesfiold, where is to be seen 

The Grave of Simon Kenton 

in a rude picket inclosure. 

''Tread lightly ! This is hallowed ground, 

tread reverently here! 
Beneath this sod in silence sleeps the 

brave old pioneer 
Who never quailed in darkest hour, whose 

heart ne'er felt a fear." 
The iron nerve of this remarkable man 
during the soul trying adventures of 40 
years' experience among hostile Indians 
in the wilds of Virginia, Kentucky and 
Ohio, would suffice for a regiment of 
ordinary heroes. During his captivity 
among the Indians, he was made to run 
the gauntlet eight times, and three times 
he was tied to the stake for torture by 
fire. At this very little town, Wappato- 
mica, he was once condemned to die. 
His face was painted black, and he had 
resigned himself to his fate. He sat 
tied hand and foot on the ground in the 



council house, surrounded by his savage 
persecutors, a dejected, friendless being. 
He understood not a word of what his 
fiendish captors said, but knew the dread- 
ful import of their proceedings. At that 
time a white man came in from a dis- 
tant expedition with some scalps and 
learned of the preparation for the torture 
of a white prisoner. He addressed the 
prisoner in English and asked him his 
name. When he heard Kenton's name 
he fell upon his neck and cried aloud. 
It was the 

Renegade, Simon Girty 

He and Kenton had been fast friends 
and scouts together in the Dunmore war. 
The Indian wamors looked on the scene 
with amazement. What a theme for an 
artist's brush the portrayal of that scene 
would afford, or what a startling stage 
scene. Girty, who was a bloodthirsty 
enemy of the whites, rose to his feet, and 
in the most earnest appeal to the savages 
in behalf of the prisoner, an old friend 
and brother whom he had not seen for 
many snows, succeeded in getting up a 
division of sentiment and saved the life 
of the prisoner, though a portion of the 
savages were crazy mad for the torture 
to go on. This is the only instance re- 
corded of Girty in which he showed 
mercy to a prisoner. In a few days 
thereafter Kenton was again condemned 
and sent to Sandusky for execution, but 
this time a British agent saved his life. 
It seems a little strange that the old 
hero should leave Kentucky in after life 
and settle down in the very village where 
his narrow escape from a horrid death 
occurred 40 years before. Perhaps this 
very fortunate escape made him regard 
tlie spot with a kindly feeling. 



November 8, 1900, a monument was 
unveiled at Mansfield, Ohio, in honor of 
"Johnny Appleseed," whose unselfish 
character made him so true to his mis- 
sion of planting nurseries and sowing 
the seeds of medicinal herbs in Ohio. 



178 



THE PIOXEER 



SHOCKING SUICIDE 



How Benjamin Waite Was Mentally Unbal- 
anced by the Possession of Too 
Much Money 



IX one of his Log Cabin Slcetches Mr. 
Evors relates the following : 

Soon after James Pembers arrival in 
1836 in Freedom township, he purchased 
a tract of land from a man named Ben- 
jamin Waite, paying him for it $600, 
which sum proved to be the only per- 
ceivable cause for the uian's suicide. 

Xo sooner had Waite l)econie possessed 
of the money, tliau lie was seized with 
the insane belief that he was pursued by 
robbers. He counted and recounted his 
money. He grew to distrust his wife. 
She was no longer a safe guardian of 
his i^elf. Avaricious spirits and wood 
demons luuinted his footsteps in the for- 
ests, and red-hauded pirates haunted his 
fitful slundjers in apparitions more 
dreadful than the "si)ectre Ijridegroom.'' 

(Iloominess and nudanclioly gradually 
took the place of a once cheerful mind. 
On other matters he seemed right enough. 
But that he should be i'ol)l)ed he was 
certain, and notlung coiiM dissipate the 
delusion from his mind, and hnally he 
lost confidence in all cai-thly tilings ex- 
cept his dog. 

It was in this state of mind that he 
and his wife staitt'd back to Lorain 
county where they Jiad come from. 
The first night out they stopped at Sher- 
wood's tavern at Grt'cn Creek, Sandusky 
county, still pursued by robbers, as he 
thought. In the night, his wife missed 
him, and began to feel mieasy on account 
of his absence, but he returned and told 
her that he had been out to hide his 
money. As soon as it was light in the 
morning, she went with him to get it. 
He went nearly a mile as she thought, 
into the thick woods, as direct as if he 
had been following a path, where they 



found the dog tied to a bush with his 
master's necktu'. Xear by under a root 
he dug up the mon(y. ^^'hat seemed still 
stranger than all, was the fact of the 
night s being exceedingly dark and his 
being wholly unfamiliar with the woods. 
The next night they reached \'ermillion 
liver, where they stopped at a tavern 
again. His wife lay awake and watched 
him for a time. He seemed to be rest- 
ing well and finally overcome with weari- 
ness, she fell into a light sleep, only to 
be startled in a short time with a heavy 
fall on the floor, in the room where they 
slept. She instantly perceived that his 
phu-c in bed was vacant, and hastened to 
get a light. She found him lying on 
the floor, red with his own blood and 
with what little strength and life yet 
remained, he was still dealing himself 
deathly stabs with a butcher knife. One 
almost imagines the poor victim in the 
sajne state of mind as Foe, in Lenore: 

"Up from the damned earth. 

To friends aljovc, from fiends below, 
The indignant ghost is driven — 

From Hell unto a high estate 
J^'ar uj) within the Heaven — 

From grk'i and groan to a 
throne 
Beside the Kiuii" of Heaven." 



fifolden 



In li<() luigland was the most ad- 
\anced of ;ill the ages in constitutional 
liberty, Init when Ave Avent to war "For 
Xo Taxation Without Eepresentation" 
and created a new nation, we reached a 
higher plane in the advance of civiliza- 
tion. 

Jn the latter ])art of the Eighties a bill 
was introduced into congress and pushed 
to a vote. This bill provided means for 
erecting monuments to perpetuate the 
menujry of Perry's victory, Ft. Meigs, Ft. 
j\Iiami, Ft. Industry and the battle of 
Fallen Timber. This bill was finally 
stricken from tlu' appropriations bill. 



S('HA1>-H()()K. 



179 



WOOD COUNTY IN WAR 



Her Sturdy Boys Ever Ready to Respond to 
Their Country's Call to Arms 



WE have do data, at hand to give any 
account of volunteers, if any, 
J'roni Wood county during the Mexican 
war. a.< tlu' county was then sparsely 
settled, there Ijcing a population of not 
over lo.OOt) prohably in the entire county. 
But in the war of the rebellion, and that 
of the war with Spain she gave abund- 
ajit e\idence of her pah'iotisui and loyal- 
ty. 

In tlie War of the Rebellion, thous- 
ands of her sons enlisted in the various 
regiments, and hundreds gave their lives 
in the defence of their country. Her 
l)rave Ijoys were distrilnited in the 14th, 



•^Ist, 4i»tli. ."iotb, ruth. (iUli, l-^d, lOOth, 
l;)lst, llltii, 123d, 144th. isrnh. 18Gth, 
and 189tli regiments of Ohio A'olunteer 
Infantry. Aside from these Wood coun- 
ty had its representatives in cavalry, ar- 
tiHery, battery aiul naval service, while 
many of hei- sons wei-e enlisted in regi- 
inejit< from otliei- states. Then when 
the county had l)een well strij)})ed of its 
ahle-l)o(lie(l men, hundreds more, known 
as the "s(piiiTel huntt'rs" of 1S()2, has- 
tened to the ivlief of ('incinnati when 
threatened by the invasion of Kirby 
Smith and his rebel legions. 

Then in the war with S[);iin in 1898, 
Wood county furnished 222 nun in Com- 
panies H and K of the 2d Ohio Regi- 
ment. The Ijoys entered the service in 
April. 1898, and were mustered out in 
February. 1899, retui'iiing liome without 
a nuin missing. 



NEWSPAPER HISTORY 



The First Newspaper in the County These 

Publications Increase and Keep 

Pace with Its Progress 



THE first newspa})er published in 
A\'ood county was the ]\Iiami of the 
Lake, .lessup W. Scott, editor. The first 
numljer of this paper was issued Decem- 
bt'r 11. 1833, and the paper continued 
to l)e j)ublished under this mime imtil 
tlie 18th of August. 1838, when tlie 7iame 
was changed to The Ohio Whig and con- 
tinued under this name until the first of 
.lune, 1844, when the name was changed 
to the Fort Meigs Keveille aiul under this 
uanu' it was published till the 10th of 
^larcJi. 18r)3, and was then changed to 
the Perrysburg -lournal. It was started 
as a Whig paper and so continued until 
the fall of 1854, Avhen the Republican 
party drove the old Whig party from the 
field. Tlu' Journal became an advocate 



of the principles of the Republican party, 
wiiich it continues to maintain. 

The next ])aper issued in Wood county 
was the Wood County Packet. This 
|iaj)i'r was Democratic in politics, and it 
was said to have been ably conducted 
during the brief ])eriod while it existed. 
It was stalled in the year 1838 or 1839, 
and closed in the year 1841, or imme- 
diately after the memorable hard-cider 
and coon-skin campaign. 

Soon after another Democratic j)aper 
started at Perrysburg al)out the year 
1845, but there remains nothing from 
which its history can be learned. 

In the year A.D., 1853, Albert D. 
A\'right commenced the publication of 
the Xorth AVestern Democrat, a Demo- 
cratic pajHT. as its nanu' indicates. The 
first issue of this i)a|)er was on the 22d 
of May. 1852. and ^li-. Wright continued 
ihe puhlical ion until his death by choh'ra 
in the summer of 1854. 

At the resumption of business after 
the cholera, the pul)licatio]i of the jSTorth 
Western Democrat was resumed and its 



180 



THE PIONEER 



publication continued till the 22d of 
January, 1855, when the name was 
changed to the Maumee Valley Democrat, 
and continued to be published under that 
name until September 3, 1857, when 
the name was again changed and from 
that time to the 7th of October, 1858, 
it was published under the name of The 
Democrat, when for want of support its 
publication ceased. 

In the year 1862 the Independent was 
started at Perrysburg, and continued to 
be published when it was removed to 
Toledo and the name changed to the 
Democratic Eecord. 

The Buckeye Granger, a paper as its 
name sufficiently indicates, was started 
at Perrysburg on the 10th of November, 
1874, for the purpose of advocating the 
principles and advancing the interests of 
the "Grangers." It was neutral in 
politics, but finally became the Demo- 
cratic organ of the county, continuing 
as such until its collapse. 

The contest between Perrysburg and 
Bowling Green in the year 1866, over the 
removal of the county seat, called into 
existence the Advocate at Bowling Green, 
the publication of which was discontin- 
ued a short time after the election in the 
above named year. In January, 1867 
the first number of the Sentinel was is- 
sued and subsequently the name was 
changed to the Wood County Sentinel. 
This paper from the beginning advocated 
the principles of the Republican party. 

In the fall of 1874, J. D. Baker com- 
menced the publication of the Wood 
County Democrat, but discontinued after 
about four months, and sold the press 
to Bowling Green parties, who began 
the pu1)Iication of the Wood County 
News, in May, 1875, and which paper 
had a lively existence until in November, 
after the election, and at the age of six 
months the News office was merged with 
the Wood County Sentinel, and was 



numbered among the things that were. 
The Weston Avalanche. The first is- 
sue of this paper was on the 3d of June, 

1874, and the publication continued till 

1875, when it ceased, and shortly after 
the Weston Free Press was started to 
take its place. 

The New Baltimore Enterprise was 
commenced in March, 1875, and its suc- 
cessor, the Wood County Democrat was 
issued in December, 1878, by D. E. & 
B. L. Peters. In 1880 it passed into 
the hands of Wm, B. and Russell T. 
Dobson; in July, 1889, Henry Holter- 
man took the paper and in September, 
1890, Henry S. Chapin became the pro- 
prietor, and continues its publication up 
to the present time. D. C. Van Voorhis 
became connected with the paper in 1892, 
and is still with the paper. The Demo- 
crat was published as a daily in the 
campaigns of 1894 and 1896. It has a 
wide circulation throughout the county. 

Other papers that have had a brief 
existence in Bowling Green, were the 
Bowling Green Journal, The Wood Coun- 
ty Republican, The Bowling Green News, 
Wood County Agitator, The Reporter, 
The Wood County Gazette, The Daily 
Gazette, The Wood County News, The 
Wood County Free Press, 

Besides these other papers in the coun- 
ty are The North Baltimore Times, suc- 
cessor to the Bairdstown Times, The 
Bloomdale Derrick, Wood County Tri- 
bune, Evening Tribune, Weston News, 
Weston Avalanche, The Free Press, The 
Weston Reporter, The Weston Herald, 
Pemberville Independent, Pemberville 
Brick Block, Pemberville Reporter, Wood 
County Index, Pemberville Leader, Pem- 
berville Presbyterian, Farm and Fireside, 
Grand Rapids Triumph, The Cygnet 
Globe, The Cygnet Gusher, The Christian 
Review, Tontogany Weekly Herald, The 
Weekly Graphic, The Bradner News, 
Prairie Depot Observer, and The Brad- 
ner Advocate. 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



181 



A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY 



A Crazed Wife Kills Her Husband in Milton 
Township in 1836 



ME. HUTCHINSON'S first work as 
Constable in Milton township was 
summoning a jury to hold an inquest 
over the body of a man by the name of 
Simmons, who was killed by his wife in 
the spring of 1836, and who lived on 
a place in the northeast corner of Jack- 
son township, at that time a part (^f 
Milton. Mr. Simmons had moved there 
with his family against the wishes of his 
wife. She disliked the dismal situation 
as it then was, and in brooding over her 
condition her mind probably became de- 



ranged. Several times she made the at- 
tempt to run away, but each time was 
brought back by her husband. She at 
last, as she afterwards expressea it, re- 
solved "to get rid of her husband" and 
go back to her old home, and therefore 
watched her opportunity. One Sunday 
morning Mr. Simmons rose early, built 
a fire, and then laid down to rest for a 
while on a bed containing his three chil- 
dren and went to sleep. His wife, evi- 
dently perceiving a good time to carry 
out her purpose, arose, took a broad-ax 
from under her bed and with one blow 
literally cut his head off. The jury sum- 
moned found a verdict in accordance 
with the foregoing facts, and Mrs. Sim- 
mons was afterwards taken to an asylum, 
wliere, after lingering some time, death 
]mt to rest the crazed brain. 



WILLARD V. WAY 



A Pioneer Lawyer and One of the Wealthy 
Men of Wood County 



ME. EVERS, in 1875, gave an ex- 
tended sketch of Willard V. Way, 
who died at his home in Perrysburg in 
the latter part of August of that year, 
at the age of 68. Mr. Evers says: Mr. 
Way was born in Otsego county, New 
York, in 1807, and was a graduate of 
Union College, after which he read law 
for a time, when he removed to Paines- 
ville, Ohio, finished his law studies and 
located in Perrysburg in the year 1834. 
Mr. Way was an attorney by profession 
and though not an eloquent jury lawyer 
he attained the reputation of being an 
excellent and safe counselor. He held 
several county offices, among others that 
of Auditor and in every position he oc- 
cupied he showed both care and ability. 
He was at an earlier day a politician of 
consider;! l)lo foresieht and sagacitv and 



did more probably than any other man 
to l)uild up the Democratic party in 
Wood county. 

On the authority of Mr. Michael Hays, 
an early Democratic associate of Mr. 
Way, the latter was a leader in the party 
and a convention had been called at 
which Mr. Way was a candidate for 
the State Senate. The convention folks 
from the river were coming out in a two 
horse wagon and had stopped at the 
Strickland place to "take something." 

About this time John C. Spink, the 
leading Whig spirit of the county, drove 
up and asked Mr. Hays to get in his 
buggy and ride out with him. Mr. Hays 
said to Spink, "What are you going out 
to a Democratic Convention for?" "To 
raise the devil," said Spink, and sure 
enough, remarks Mr. Hays, he did raise 
the devil. Way got mad at the way 
things went and was further irritated at 
his defeat, by what he considered unfair 
means in the Senatorial Convention. 
Mr. Hays says that he was never more 
surprised than when a few days after 
Way rode along 1»y liis place in company 



182 



THE IMOXEER 



with Asher Cook wlio \v;is tlini reading 
law with liini and cidled ]Iavs to him 
and said with niiicli warmth of feeling, 
"Hays, I have huilt iij) the Demoeratic 
part}' in Wood county and now so help 
me G — d I will tear it down."' In later 
years he acted with tlic Tvepid^lican 
party. 

It is estimated tliat liis real estate 
alone is worth $80, 000 and his estate is 
estimated at $ir)0,000 to $175,000. He 
was of a literary turn of mind and took 
a great interest in educational matters 
and the pioneer history of tlie Valley. 
He ".vrote and ])id)lished in pamphlet 
form a history of the "]\Iichigan War," 
an amusing and ratlicr interesting ac- 
eonnt of the Stale boundary line eontest. 

Shortly after Ids local imi on the Man- 



mee Mr. Way returned to Buffalo and 
uuirried ]Mrs. Sophia Hodge. 

Jn his will the Union Sehool of Per- 
rysburg in perpetuity is given $."),000, the 
interest of which is to go toward defray- 
ing the College expense of some well 
reeonnnended graduate of said schools. 

His homestead and six villagt' lots are 
left in custody of his wife, so long as 
she lives, then it goes to the town for 
a public park. $l.j,000 is set apart as a 
|)er])etual fund, the interest only of which 
can ])e used in the support of the library. 
All the rest of the proceeds of the estate 
may be used in the purchase of a lot 
and the construction of a suitable build- 
ing and the ])urchase of hooks as and in 
such mannei- as the town Council may 
think best, but for ]io other jmrpose. 



THE WOODBURY HOUSE 



The True Story of This Building, Once Fa- 
mous in Wood County History 



IX a letter to the Wood County Repub- 
lican, C. W. Evers, at the request 
of the editor, gave the following facts 
regarding the Woodbury House, correct- 
ing the many prevalent errors regarding 
it. ^[r. Evers says: 

The village of Woodbury was surveyed 
and platted by Hiram Davis, a pioneer 
surveyor of ^Vood county, ]\Iay 4, 1837, 
for John Thompson, Henry B. Gibson 
and Jal)ez B. Larwell. The location was 
at a point where the east and west line 
dividing Liberty and Hcni-y townships. 
Wood county, intersects the Fiiullay pike. 
Two years prior to the sur\-ey or in 1835, 
a postoffice had been established, kept 
in a log store room by Jose])h Tliompson. 
After the survey (icneral Thoin])son built 
the frame house which has becji the 
theme of so many stories uncanny and 
otherwise. After (ienei-al Thompson's 



dream of a city growing up there had 
been dissipated l)y a few wet, sickly sea- 
sons, the house stood vacant at times for 
want of a tenant, and seems to liave only 
l)een occu])ied l)y some chance comer who 
liad no other jdace. to go. Xow you 
know how soon a liouse of this sort will, 
deservedly perhaps, get a bad name — get 
"haunted," etc. Some time in the 60's, 
it burned to the ground, no doubt by 
design of some one to abate a nuisance. 
The postoffice was moved about in the 
settlement still retaining the name 
"Woodl)ury" until 1876, when it was 
di'opped from the rolls and is now only 
a I'cuiiniscence. 



So f;ii- as can be verified 1)v historical 
records or by Indian traditicm, thi' ^liami 
tribe of Indians were the original 
"pioneers" of the Maumee A'alley. They 
wi're always true to the coivlidence re- 
posed in them, and in their chiefs, from 
tinu' inini.iiiorial, v.'v're second in ability 
to I'.oir' ()'' t!r ir time. 



SCHAr-BOOK. 



1.S3 



A NIGHT WITH INDIANS 



Intense Hatred and Jealousy of a Savage 
Inspired by Whisky 



JF. DUBBS of Milton township, in 
• 1883, furnished a startling incident 
for ^Ir. Evers' sketches. He said that 

I in February of the year 1838, his uncle. 
John Duhbs, lived in a cabin in Jackson 
township, and he lived with him, Ijcing- 
a small boy at tliat time. A lad named 
Simmons about my age also lived there. 

Tlu're was an Indian slianty on liis 
uncle's land occupied l)y four Indians, 
[ t\A'o men and two squaws: tlie men were 
brothers: John and Bol) were their 
names : the old S([uaw was the mother 
of the two men. the young squaw was 
Bob"s wife. She was young and hand- 
soiru'. and Bol) was. very ])roud of his 
wife. John was always nuul at Bob be- 
cause he had a wife and he, John, had 
none, 'i'he day preceding the night iji 
(pu'stion, it had snowed about eight inches 
dee]) and tiu'ned very cold. 

:\Ir. Dubbs says : " About 9 o'clock at 
night the Indian family came to our 
cabin and asked for admittance, for they 
were very cold. I'ncle John opened the 
door. I can look back through the mists 
of time and see those Indians walk in 
with their blankets around them and 
with their knives in their belts. The 
men were over six feet tall and built in 
proportion. They took their seats around 
the fire place while we occupied the back 
part of the cabin. All was quiet for a 
little while. A man l)y the name of 
Rowan had a notion store and kept 
whisky a])out one mile from our cabin. 
The Indians had been there and procured 
a jug of whisky, of which they had par- 
taken quite freely. When they began to 
thaw out the whisky began to take effect, 
and caused the spirit of Cain to rise in 
John, so he wanted to slav his brother, 



for he hated him because he had a wife. 
All at once the stillness was broken by 
Indian John jjouncing upon Bob with all 
the fierceness of a tiger, grappling him 
by the throat and felling him to the 
floor, smashing Ibe chair on which he 
was sitting: tiicn the squaws took sides 
with Bob; they were all in a pile before 
the fire. The fight was fierce, but Bob 
soon cried murder I lie said John has 
a knifi' and will kill me. 

Uncle dolm Hnhhs no soonei' ln'anl 
this than be ordered us to open the door, 
which we did: then he sprang and caught 
Big John l)y tlu' legs and lumblcd him 
heels over lu'ad cmt of the cabin. Uncle 
-lohn lit on top of him. and told him 
if he didn't lav still he would kill h.im 
in a minute. I'ncle John held him by 
the hands and told Simmons and me to 
run to the stable and bring his plow lines, 
which we did quick as we could in the 
dark. Soon Big .lohn was thoroughly 
hound from lu'ad to foot. 

Then Uncle John began lo feel that 
he Avas nu)narch once more and ihat the 
red man had no business his rights to 
dispute: he told Simmons and me to go 
and bring sonu' straw which we did. and 
he rolled Big John in the straw, and 
said, now lay thei-e and freeze' until you 
can behave yourself. The cold soon made 
John beg hard to he let loosv : be said 
"nu^ be good Injin, lite no more." When 
he was i)unished enough Uncle dohn let 
him loose aiul sent tlu'iu home to their 
shanty. 

It being now about twt'hc o'clock, and 
the excitement (d' the evening hei:ig 
over, we retired to rest. We had 
not been in hml mort' than trie 
hour when the dogs l)egan to bar'k 
and soon the piteous cries of some one 
was heard at tlie door pleading to be let 
in. Uncle John's ])atience being pretty 
well exhausted he yelled at the top of 
his voice for them to go home and not 
bother him any more. But the cries 
continued more ])itiful, saying John has 



184 



THE PIONEER 



most killed me and I will die if you do 
not let me in. 

By this time the whole house was 
aroused again, and Uncle John got up 
and struck a light and opened the door, 
and there stood the young and once beau- 
tiful squaw with her face literally cut 
to pieces. She was covered with blood 
from head to foot, and nearly frozen, the 
cold causing her wounds to bleed very 
profusely. Uncle John and the girls 
warmed some water and washed and 
dressed the wounds the best they could. 
I think there were about four or five 
bad cuts on her face and head. She 
soon felt better, and said she guess John 



kill Bob. The girls got her something to 
eat, and it was so near morning it was 
not worth while to go to bed again. 

Soon as it was daylight Uncle John 
took the squaw and started to the shanty 
to see the slaughter there which he ex- 
pected to find, but to his surprise he 
found the old squaw, John and Bob all 
laying with their feet toward the fire 
sound asleep. He woke them up and 
told John what he had done, and how he 
had broken his promise, and now they 
must leave his place, and never come 
back, which orders they promptly obeyed, 
and we never saw this Indian family any 
more. 



THE BLACK SWAMP 



A Region Once So Dreaded Now the Garden 
Spot of Ohio 



YEARS ago, when the tide of emigra- 
tion was strongly settling to the 
then Western States of Michigan, Illinois 
and Iowa, no locality, says the Toledo 
Blade, was better known or more dreaded 
than the "Black Swamp." The limits 
of this "Swamp" were never very well de- 
fined, l)ut the largest part of it is em- 
braced in Wood county. At the time 
when this "Black Swamp" was enjoying 
its reign of terror, prior to the construc- 
tion of Western Reserve & Maumee Stone 
Road, movers passing from the East to 
the West found tlio greatest difficulty in 
going from the Portage river, at Wood- 
ville, to till' ^launiee river, at Perrys- 
burg. While all of this distance was 
not properly "Swamp," two or three stone 
ridges rising out of tlic mud and water 
to cheer tlu' weary traveler, the greater 
portion of ihc fiflcrn mile? was emphati- 
cally a "Swam])," covci-cd with water 



nine months in the year, and affording 
almost bottomless mud and mire from 
January first to December thirty-first. 

Old settlers relate many amusing inci- 
dents connected with travel through the 
"Swamp" in those days, and the hard- 
ships endured by "movers" can probably 
never be too strongly colored. "Taverns" 
were located along the line of the travel- 
ed road in great numbers, not more than 
one-half a mile or a mile apart. It is 
related as a fact that "movers" would 
frequently travel hard each day for three 
days in succession and put up at the same 
"tavern" each night. It was called 
"Black Swamp" because the soil was 
l)lack, and it was exceedingly difficult to 
]iass through it, because this black soil, 
or loam, was of great depth and thorough- 
ly impregnated with lime, forming a 
tough, waxy mud which would adhere 
to the wheels of wagons with great 
tenacity. 

But things have changed, and that 
which years ago was regarded as a great 
curse, is to-day esteemed the greatest 
l)lessing. Clearing up the land and 
ditching it, ha? redeemed the "Black 
Swam|»," and tlie soil to-day is unsur- 
passed for ])roduetivcuess. It is easily 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



185 



tilled and yields tlic largest crops of 
grain and the best samples of fruits. 
The "Black Swamp" farmers see no evi- 
dences of the once dreaded "Swamp," 
except in the deep, rich, black loam into 
which their plows sink and which yields 
such abundant returns for the husband- 
man's labors. Artificial drainage has ac- 
complished what natural drainage has 



failed to effect, and the "Black Swamp" 
to-day, where properly under-drained and 
provided with ditches, will stand a 
drought or a flood better than any other 
section of Ohio. The land is much 
stronger than it possibly could have been 
but for the level surface of the earth, 
which gave it the appearance of a vast 
"Black Swamp." 



HULL'S SURRENDER 



Graphic Description of the Event Hull an 
Imbecile from Drink 



GEN. SANDER SOX, who was pres- 
ent at the surrender thus describes 
the situation : 

It was late in May, 1812, when General 
Hull arrived at our camp at Dayton, and 
Governor Meigs relinquished command. 
A few days after we were on the march 
for Detroit. The road was a difficult one 
to travel, but by the aid of efficient 
guides, and the protection of Divine 
Providence we arrived safely at our des- 
tination, after much suffering and many 
stoppages on the way. For nearly two 
months after our arrival, we engaged in 
the performance of no extraordinary 
military duty the general routine of camp 
life being the order from day to day. In 
August the British and Indians arrived, 
and soon after the scene occurred which 
produced such indignation at the time, 
and about which histories do not agree. 
My company, belonging to Cass' regi- 
ment, was surrendered with all the Ohio 
volunteers. Miller's regulars, and a large 
force of militia. I shall never forget the 
scenes which then transpired. My opin- 
ion of General Hull's conduct, formed 
at the time (and events since have not 
changed it) was, that General Hull was 
an imbecile — not a traitor or a coward 
but an imbecile, caused by the excessive 
use of ardent spirits. He was a constant 



and heavy drinker. On the day before 
the surrender, his son, Captain Abraham 
F. Hull, came among my men in a 
beastly state of intoxication. On the day 
of the surrender I saw General Hull 
frequently. His face about the chin and 
mouth was covered with tobacco Juice, 
and I thought, in common with other 
officers, that the General was under the 
influence of liquor. His personal ap- 
pearance indicated that he had been 
drinking. The general was surrounded, 
in camp by a military family, the mem- 
bers of which were fond of high living, 
wines, liquors, etc. I know us poor vol- 
unteers wondered how they could keep up 
such luxuries, but our surgeon relieved 
my mind by informing me one day that 
Hull's officers drew all the liquors from 
the hospital stores, on continued com- 
])laint of illness, Hidl's surgeon (one of 
the party) certifying to the requisitions. 
When the news of the surrender was 
known to the troops, they were scarcely 
able to restrain their indignation. Hun- 
dreds of horrible oaths and threats as- 
cended, whicli I hope has not been set 
down by the "Recording Angel." Mc- 
Arthur broke his sword, as did other offi- 
cers. General Hull was repeatedly in- 
sulted to his face, and soon hid himself 
away. The members of his military fam- 
ily, especially the General's son Abraham, 
received some pretty tall abuse from us 
Ohioans. After the surrender and before 
the enemy had entered, many officers, 
myself among the number, implored 
Colonel Fii)(ll;iv to take command of the 



ISC) 



THE PIOXEER 



AiiK'ric-aii forces, ami resist tlie enem}', 
but hr declined. (_*olonel Jas. Miller was 
importuned the same as Findlay, but lie 
was unwilling to assume the responsibil- 
it}', saying- as near as I can recollect, 
"Matters have gone too far, but had Gen- 
eral Hull signified to me his intention 
of surrendering, I would have assumed 
command, and defended the fort to the 
last." ^lilk'r would liavc done so and 
so would McAi-tluu' had he heeji in the 
fort. 

Some littli' tini(^ affei- Hull had order- 



ed the white flag, August 16, 1812, Col- 
onel Isaac Brock, the British command- 
er, entered the fort attended bv his staff 
and several Indian chiefs. The Ameri- 
can troops were ordered to the parade 
ground and there piled up their muskets, 
swords. [)islols, knives, cartridge boxes, 
etc. A heavy guard was placed over us, 
and we were then sent to the "citadel" 
where we were kept until released on 
parole. Hull and the regular officers 
were sent to Quehec. 



A MADMAN'S FRENZY 



Orson Cross, a Veritable Demon, and His 

Remarkable Recovery After 20 

Years' Confinement 



IX the old Pcrrysburg jail when the 
insane patients of Wood county were 
confined in it, a stalwart middle-aged 
num with dark hair and beard was con- 
fined in the first cell near the entry to 
the crazy department, and few who ever 
saw him in his crazy frenzy with that 
demoniac expression of the eye which at 
times seemed to emit fire while his mouth 
was choaked with foam, will have for- 
gotten it. He was one of the most dan- 
gerous men ever put under lock and key. 
When in a frenzy his ' rage knew no 
bounds and his strength seemed almost 
superhuman and he exerted both to the 
direst extent on any obji'ct willii)! his 
grasp. 

On (jue occasion he dragged a young 
dog through the bars of the cell door, 
crushed its head on the l)rick floor and 
licked up the blood. C. C. Baird, who 
was then Deputy Sheriff and jailer, as- 
sisted by the best man he could select, 
undertook the dangerous job of entering 
his cell. iMr. Baird sot his head serious- 



ly hurt with an iron vessel with which 
Cross assailed them, roaring the mean- 
wliiU' like a lion. 

At another time he got a new hat be- 
longing to another patient, in his cell 
and refust'd to let it be taken out. It 
took the strength of two men to force the 
door open which he held with all his 
strength, until of a sudden he let loose 
when both came i}i nearly falling on 
their knees. Cross instantly grappled one 
of the men, pushing him over the iron 
bedstead against the wa|l while the other 
seized hold of the mad nuin's throat with 
an iron grip. His eyes ]irotruded from 
their sockets and his tongue from his 
mouth, and his face grow bhu-k l)efore 
he released his grasp on the man, which 
he finally did citinpletely exhausted, after 
which he was docile as was iuAai-iablv the 
case when overiiowered. 

Cross seemed to pass through three 
stages or paroxysms of insanity. During 
the first he was ferocious, noisy and dan- 
gei'ous, sleepless and moving nearly all 
the time like a caged bt'ast, muttering 
constantly to himself, more especially re- 
peating in a disconnected way a portion 
of the multi])lication fable, but no mat- 
ter what the inimbers multiplied he al- 
ways got around to the same product, 27. 
He dwelt especially on numbers 9 and 
27. During this time he ate nothing. 




THE HARRISON WELL 

Which Supplied the Garrison with Water, Fort Meigs 



SCKAP-BOOK. 



189 



and these spells lasted sometimes for a 
number of days. At such times he would 
break all the glass from the window if 
he could get a stick to reach through 
the bars, and push his bedding out no 
matter how cold the weather. 

The next stage was a long, almost 
deathlike sleep, from which it was nearly 
impossible to arouse him. Then followed 
a wakeful stupor in which he was sullen 
and cross, and in which he remained for 
some time, and during which time he had 
a ravenous appetite. From this he would 
come to his natural self, in which he was 
agreeable, talkative, and a pitiful being 
to behold. His pale, emaciated, implor- 
ing look would excite sympathy in the 
coldest heart. At such times he was 
frequently allowed to spend an hour or 
so in the open air in a back yard inclosed 
by a high fence. This of course was 
somewhat risky, as his spells of frenzy 
did not recur regularly. One afternoon 
Mr. Baird requested him to come in, 
which ordinarily he did with the sub- 
missiveness of a child, but this time he 
told Baird to go to h — 1. Mr. Baird 
was powerless to compel him to do so, 
nor dare he leave a moment for the 
safety of his family. Cross was already 
frothing at the mouth. In the dungeon 
part of the jail among the prisoners was 
a powerfully built Irishman 

Named Pat Shady 

Charged with robbery. Baird closed the 
front doors and called Shady out. Cross 
closed in with him the moment he came 
into the yard. It was the struggle be- 
tween two giants. Cross was, before his 
troubles and disease, the best wrestler in 
Wood county, and was struggling with 
all the fury and wild energy of a mad 
man. Shady, who was not a whit his 
inferior in size or strength, was nerved 
by the hideous appearance of his an- 
tagonist. After a terrific struggle of 
some minutes, Cross threw Shady, but 
the Irishman proved stronger when down 
than on his feet even, and turned Cross 



by main strength, at which time Baird 
came to his assistance and they got the 
infuriated man to his cell. 

The cause of his insanity is something 
of a mystery as is usually the case. 
About 30 years before he was a hale, 
hearty young man and we believe in the 
employ of E. W. Kelly, on his farm near 
Millgrove and not far from where the 
Cross people lived. It was thought that 
he injured himself while wrestling one 
night at a spelling school. He was 

Sent to Newburg Asylum 

Where he was the terror of the institu- 
tion, and from which place he was sent 
back to Wood county as incurable, and 
was confined in a cell in jail from the 
time of Sheriff: Guyer's term until the 
establishment of the Wood county infir- 
mary, to which he was removed in 1867. 
Here he was kept in the same manner 
until the Northwestern Asylum near To- 
ledo was established, when he was re- 
moved there and put under care of Dr. 
Wright, who sent him out a well man. 
And he has been back to visit some of his 
relatives, and is now at work in Michi- 
gan, or perhaps at the Asylum, for 
wages. 

Wright, we hear, discovered the cause 
of his insanity to be in the derangement 
of his stomach, and by watching closely 
the approach of his paroxysms and ad- 
ministering powerful cathartics followed 
by other treatment, succeeded in break- 
ing the force of his attacks until he 
finally showed no further bad symptoms. 
This would seem to be strong proof of 
the astonishing and sympathetic relation 
of the brain and stomach, and is one 
of the most remarkable recoveries we 
have ever heard of. 

In his 20 years of prison life, confine- 
ment, exposure and abuse of health and 
the reversal of all laws of health, he had 
endured that which would have killed 
99 men in every hundred. He is to-day 
to all appearances, a well man of sound 
mind. — From Evers' Log Cabin Sketches. 



100 



NOTED BEAR HUNT 



Fifty- Five Years Ago in the Black Swamp 
Over 200 Miles Chase in Four 
Days and Nights 



1^' the Sontiiid in 1881, Wm. E. Ca- 
rothers gives an interesting account 
of a strenuous bear bunt in December, 
1854, with Jim RoAvLmd. In three days 
they had captured and killed two bears 
weighing over 400 pounds each. After 
letting their dogs rest a day, they started 
on the last day's hunt which is thus de- 
scribed l)y Carothers: 

We started early in the morning, and 
for a time the dogs left iis far in the 
rear, 1)ut we could discover traces of fre- 
quent fierce conflicts, and a little after 
noon -the dogs Avere crowding the game 
hard. The bear's feet Ave re so torn and 
lacerated on the bottoms, that he left 
blood in every track. We Avere now ap- 
proaching the Jackson prairie or swamp, 
the skirts of Avhicb Avere covered with 
Avind-fall and dense brush and thickets, 
all bent over every Avhich Avay by the 
lodged snoAv. Into this old bruin 
plunged. It Avas next to impossible for 
a man to get through this place. When 
Ave at last reached the o]X'n space be- 
Aond wt' canu' in full view of the dogs 
and game in a savage contest. Bruin 
Avas on a log that lay up from the 
ground, mopping and striking at the dogs, 
Avhicli Ave re closed up in a circle all 
around him. It Avas one of the most 
Avild, exciting, sporting scenes a hunter 
could Avish to see. The dogs would 
either pull the bear off the log or cause 
him to jump from it, Avhen they Avould 
all attack him and the snoAV would fly 
in clouds. The fierce groAA'ls and groans 
of rage of the bear could be heard above 
the din raised l»y the dogs, Avhich Avas 
deafening. 

Prettv soon old bruin madc^ a savage 



THE PIONEER 

rally and l)roke from his blood-thirsty 
tormentors, hut within a fcAV rods had 
again taken to a log. Rowland and I 
liad rushed up Avith all possible haste. 
• lim. Avho Avas Avatching Avith great anx- 
iety, expecting every moment to see a 
dog killed, suddenly stopped and leveled 
his rifle, and Ave saw the bear tmnble off 
to the far side of the log. Every dog 
bounced him instantly. Jim began re- 
loading; l)ut Avhat was our consternation 
when Ave heard one of the dogs giving a 
terrible cry of distress and saw the 
shaggy, bhu'k l)east standing on his hind 
legs, with one of the best dogs in his 
deadly end)race, Avhile with one paw he 
was beating and cri^ipling the dogs Avith 
frightful ferocity. I rushed up within 
■^!) feet unnoticed by the bear, and shot 
liim in the head, killing him instantly. 
The dogs all laid hold of the beast with 
terrible vengeance and fully satiated 
their wrath for all the trouble and cuffs 
and bites they had suffered. I took off 
my hat and yelled loud and long, and 
ne\'er felt better in my life; and though 
Ibe weatlier was pretty cold I seemed to 
be faii'ly meliing and .the steam rose 
from my liead in wreatlis bigb as the 
tri'e tops. 

We were, dogs and all, pretty Avell used 
up: tbe poor ])rutes lay doAvn and licked 
tbeir bbxHiy feet, and had hard work to 
get bome : they would lay down and 
whin<' and wag their tails as if in the 
greatest distress. This bear Avas a fine 
tliree-year-old, and Aveiglied about 400 
pounds. 

Althougli I have done some hunting ' 
since, that Avas my last bear hunt and 
it Avas about the last of RoAvland's hunt- 
ing. He told me years after that he 
never got over the effects of that chase 
— that it Avas more than flesh and bone 
could endure. Jim was almost a man 
of iron. Closely knit, compact, large- 
boned, l)road-chested, actiA'e as a deer, 
strong and with an endurance in his 
vounger davs almost incredible, he had 



S("I{AP-B()()K. 



1!)1 



few tMjuals as a woodsman aiul hunter; lorts to the verv IV'wcst and [)lainest. 
1 can now tliink of one otlier, his brother, '1 he cares incident to a hixurions state 
Bob Kowhnid. oT living, the turmoil of l)nsiness, the 
Providence seemed to liavr allot te(l frivolities of fashion, the struggle for so- 
each man bis proper sphere in the great cial supi-emacy, wvw unknown to those 
universe, and tliis class of men — tbe early })i()neers. Tbcy lived more for 
pioneers of the Black Swamp, bravely eacb otlier tliau people do now. but tbcv 
and faithfully fultilled. their mission. were only llie loiT-i-uniiers of a liigber 
The law-of necessitv gauged, all their com- civilization. 



A GHASTLY CRIME 



Carl Bach Hanged for the Murder of His 

Wife— One of the Most Brutal in 

History of Wood County 

Crime 



OX the night of the lUth of October, 
1881, Carl Bach, a farmer of Clif- 
ton township, most savagely murdered 
his wife, which was the culmination of 
a long period of domestic discord. On 
the morning of the 11th, the murderer 
\oluntarily walked to Bowling Green and 
surrendered himself to the sheriff. 

The Sentinel of October 1"2, 188;], says 
when the coroner reached the scene of 
the murder, in the middle of the room 
in a pool of 1)1 ood, lay the body of a 
woman, covered with a sheet. The iloor, 
walls and ceiling were smeared and be- 
spattered with l)lood ; giblets of liesli, 
tufts of hair, brains and lingers were 
scattered over the floor. 

On lifting the bloody sheet from the 
body the sight was still more shocking. 
The back part of the woman's head was 
all hacked to a jelly. The left shoulder 
had been nearly severed by one terrific 
Idow. The side of the head was cut open 
from the mouth back. An arm was near- 
ly cut off and several fingers were severed 
on one of the hands. Such a horrible 
butchery it would be hard to paint in 
the imagination. The woman when llrst 
attacked lay in bed with her six-year-old 
child, and to her struo-gles to avoid the 



inurderous blows and get free, is partly 
attributable liei- strangely mangled con- 
dition, and tbe blood marks of her bands 
on tbe wall. She was doubtless dead 
befcu'e the infuriate(l murdei'iT ceased 
hacking her body. 

With his thi-ee children, aged 1:1. 1 I 
and (i years, lie sle])t until iiinrning in 
an adjoining room and very early in the 
morning he took the children to the 
house of a neighbor, Mr. Ileinzie, about 
a mile distant. He told what he had 
done — that he had killed his wife and 
that he must go to Bowling (ireen and 
give himself u}). and requested Mr. 
Heinzie to take care of the children aiul 
left with him also a sum of nioni'y for 
the burial of his wife. Mr. Fleiiizie was 
startled at his strange conduct and dis- 
l)elieved his shocking story, but told some 
of the neigbliors and togethei' they went 
to the house and found their woi'sl fears 
more than confirmed. 

On the .-)th of February. ISS'.'. Bach 
was indicted for wilful murdei". The 
trial took place in .hme, ISS-j. and on 
the Kith of that month he was found 
guilty as charged, and sentenced to be 
hanged October 13, 1882. 

Bach's counsel prepared a bill of ex- 
ceptions and a short time prior to the 
time set foi- the execution, filed a mo- 
tion in tbe Supreme court for leave to 
file a petition in error. The motion be- 
ing argued was sustained by the court 
and a stay of ])rocwdings granted until 
the hearing of tlu' petition at the January 
term 188:!. at which time the judii'inent 



192 



THE PIONEER 



of the court of Common Pleas was re- 
versed for the reason that said court 
erred in empanelling the jury. The 
cause was thereupon remanded for a new 
trial and at the February term, 1833, of 
Wood Common Pleas, it was ordered to 
be again placed on the trial docket of 
said court, and assigned for trial at the 
May term thereof, viz: on the 11th day 



of June, 1883, when the second trial be- 
gan, and on the 27th of that month the 
jury brought in a verdict of guilty. He 
was then sentenced, and on the 12th day 
of October, 1883, Carl Bach paid the 
extreme penalty of his crime, being the 
second and last murderer hanged in 
Wood county. 



A STRANGE STORY 



Woman Finds Her Father After a Separation 
of Over 30 Years 



A NUMBER of years ago the Sentinel 
related an incident regarding an 
intelligent, plainly dressed woman, above 
the middle age, who arrived from an 
eastern state and stopped at one of the 
Bowling Green hotels. She looked up a 
livery man and after making some in- 
quiries about prices, she made cautious 
inquiry for a family whose name need 
not be given. The livery man knew 
several persons of that name in the south 
part of the county, and together they 
started, and after some inquiry found 
the man for whom she searched. The 
balance of the story as reluctantly told 
by the lady herself is this: Thirty-six 
years before that time, when she was a 
child six or seven years old, she lived 
with her father and mother on a beauti- 
ful stream beyond the Alleghanies. She 
had several brothers and sisters, but she 
was the favorite of her father. A dark 
cloud and domestic unhappiness came 
over the household and her father fled 
and became lost to his family entirely. 
The mother obtained a divorce and mar- 
ried again. The children grew up and 
married one after another, and finally 
the subject of this sketch became a 



widow. Some months before her arrival 
she accidentally heard of a man of the 
same name as her long lost father, and 
from some circumstance related she was 
more than half convinced that it must 
be he and that he lived in Wood county, 
Ohio. With a woman's curiosity and 
tenacity of purpL<se she resolved to go 
and search for him. 

As she drove along the road in the 
vicinity of where he lived on a farm less 
than ten miles from this place, she met 
a couple of men of whom she made in- 
quiry. One of them answered to the 
name of the man she sought. The man 
gazed at her intently for some time. 
Perhaps he saw in her face something 
familiar. Perhaps she resembled her 
mother, once his wife. She nervously 
disclosed to him a part of her errand, 
when he walked around the carriage to 
the side where she sat and extending his 
hand said, "Sarah Jane, I am your lost 
father." We will not attempt to describe 
the meeting of this long separated father 
and daughter, but conclude after stating 
the fact that the old man had lived in 
Wood county a number of years, and 
had eleven sons and daughters, most of 
them married and settled. He was then 
living with his third wife, the mother of 
his second set of children having died 
some 3^ears before. Wife number one 
was still living in comfortable circum- 
stances and perhaps ignorant of the 
whereabouts or fate of her long ago for- 
ijotten husband. 



SCKAP-BOOK. 



193 



INDIAN DANCES 



Indian Rivals Have a Tragic Ending — A 

Young Lady Has No More Use 

for an Indian Ball 



WILLIAM EWING was especially 
recognized among the Indians as 
one of their white friends or advisers 
and has settled many of their disputes. 
He says he has probably attended as 
many as a hundred Indian dances in his 
time. Their dances were of two charac- 
ters, one called "Manatoo" a religious 
dance, and the other their war dance. 
Their "Manatoos"' would be held at their 
camp, at which six or eight hundred 
Indians would sometimes assemble, dress- 
ed in their finest costumes and wearing 
their brightest jewelry. They would 
build what might be called a bower, 
about 30 by 60 feet in size, for the oc- 
casion, with center posts, around which 
the Indians would travel in procession 
repeating a chant and going through all 
sorts of antics; one Indian would sit in 
the center and beat a "one-headed drum," 
made by stretching a skin over a cut 
from a hollow log. The medicine man 
was always a prominent guest, always 
dressed in the finest furs and carried 



a wampum belt in his hand. He traveled 
in an opposite direction to the rest and 
would occasionally single out a favorite 
dancer at whom he would point his 
wampum, and who would drop to the 
ground and again rise and join the dance 
after receiving a blessing from the medi- 
cine man. 

Ewing once attended a war dance at 
a camp at the mouth of Tontogany creek, 
the occasion being a little local difficulty. 
Two young Indians named Nauquezike 
and Pamquauk, rivals, got into difficulty 
at the dance over a young squaw, and 
Nauquezike killed Pamquauk by stabbing 
him with a knife. 

Ewing relates that himself and an- 
other young man once attended a dance 
with two bright young belles of their 
neighborhood and were invited to join 
in the services, which invitation they ac- 
cepted. Swing's lady became so badly 
frightened at the maneuvers of the In- 
dians when about half way round the 
bower, that she "broke" and ran as 
though for her life. The Indians were 
so amused at her discomforture that all 
joined in a hearty demonstration of 
mirth, which frightened her still more 
and she nearly went into spasms, and left, 
resolving that she would never attend 
another Indian ball. 



A SAD CHAPTER 



Poor Fanny Deering — Harrowing Tale of 

Cruelty, of Crushed Hopes and 

Black Despair 



THE Sentinel of March 23, 1882, con- 
tains one of the saddest chapters 
probably in the annals of Wood county, 
written by Mr. C. W. Evers, who made 
a thorough investigation of all the cir- 
cumstances connected with the tragedy. 
Tiie account follows: 

On the morning of March 14, 1882, 



near the Plain church, four miles west 
of Bowling Green, Fanny Deering, a 
young lady of 27, cultured and intelli- 
gent, shot herself with a revolver. This 
is the legal verdict. 

But is there another, darker, more 
awful verdict in this case? Was the 
trembling hand that held the pistol to 
the beating heart of Fanny Deering and 
pulled the fatal trigger the only hand 
raised against her life ? Are there others 
who, at the final judgment, must be held 
responsible for her blood? 

We will give the facts as near as we 
have been able to get them from different 



194 



THE PIOJ^EER 



neighbors of the Deerings and other 
sources which seem to be credible. 

The Deerings 

J. K. Deering, the father of Fanny, 
was of a good, respectable family in 
Maine, and was given a college education 
and put into the ministry. At a synod 
meeting he met an educated young lady 
and an accomplished musician and after 
a short acquaintance, married her. Their 
life was not happy; he was a poor excuse 
of a husband, scarcely able to provide for 
himself, let alone a family, while she 
was proud-spirited and ambitious. They 
continued man and wife until five chil- 
dren had been born to them, when a 
decree of divorce on the grounds of in- 
compatibility was given them by the 
court, and Deering kept the oldest child, 
Fanny, then thirteen or fourteen ^ears 
old. 

Fanny had, in the meantime, the ad- 
vantages of schools and was a very bright, 
apt child. Soon after, Deering took 
Fanny and went to Michigan where one 
of his sisters lived, and where Fanny 
soon after taught school, her father, as 
she said, appropriating most of her 
wages, which was almost a necessity to 
him, as he seemed incapable of main- 
taining himself in any degree of respec- 
tability. He seems to have been too 
jiroud and impractical or lazy to work 
and was not a success as a preacher. 

Fanny had a great adaptability and 
love for music, and after a time entered 
Oberlin College, and after two years of 
self denial and deprivation, during which 
time she taught, she graduated in the 
Conservatory of Music. Through her 
proficiency and adaptability as a teacher, 
good address and good recommends, she 
had no trouble in securing employment, 
and througli the advice of a classmate 
she went to Toledo and found profitable 
patrons in some of the best- families in 
the city, and was organist in one of the 
city missions, . also a beloved teacher in 



one of the Mission Industrial school 
classes. 

Mrs. Hurlburt, matron of the school, 
writing of Fannie since the trouble be- 
tween her and her father and step-mother 
began, says: 

"I visited them (Fanny and her fath- 
er, who kept house in a rented room. — 
Ed.) often, and never detected any signs 
of neglect or indifference to the needs 
or comforts of her father on the part 
of Miss Deering, whom I have always 
given credit for being a most dutiful 
daughter, continually laboring far be- 
yond her strength, under great disadvan- 
tage of delicate health and other unfav- 
orable conditions. 1 am convinced that 
if she had been less unselfish and devoted 
to his interests, she would to-day be far 
better off in health and pocket than she 
now is. 

"From a close and friendly intercourse 
with Miss Deering, extending over nearly 
eight years, I can truly say that I believe 
her to be truthful and worthy of the 
respect and confidence of all whom she 
may meet." 

Equally strong commendations come 
from Col. Slevin, Mrs. A. T. Babbitt, 
Mrs. Whitney, and others, who were well 
acquainted with Fanny. 

Mrs. Babbitt says: 

"I know that previous to the marriage 
of her father to his present wife, she 
(Fanny) cared for and supported her 
father by her own labor, when physically, 
he was much better able to do it than 
she was to do it for him. 

"Miss Deering has been a member of 
my family for several months and I know 
her to be truthful and honest to the 
last farthing. I also know her character 
to be spotless and her conduct without 
reproach." 

These are the disinterested testimonials 
of Christian people and we produce 
them to silence the tongue of calumny 
put in motion by Deering or some of 
liis apologists, that Fanny was undutiful. 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



195 



quarrelsome, bad disposition, etc. All 
who knew her speak of her as a kind, 
sympathetic, sweet dispositioned girl. 
She seems to have mostly supported her 
father for a time until about 1876, when 
he married a woman at Perrysburg, who 
now became her step mother and bor- 
rowed Fanny's money as fast as she 
earned it. Fanny still taught music and 
practiced the greatest economy and self 
denial, going on foot, lame as she was, 
from house to house to visit her pupils 
rather than pay street car fare, in order 
that she might accumulate a little sum 
of money with which she could visit Ger- 
many and graduate in music, which was 
the one great aim and ambition of her 
life. The energy of her whole being 
centered in this one object. She took 
lessons in the German language and 
studied nights until her eye sight began 
to fail and she had to wear eye glasses. 
She progressed rapidly and soon she 
could read and write and converse in 
German. Thus it Avas she toiled on night 
and day that she might fulfill her musical 
aml)ition. 

In the meantime her step mother con- 
tinued to borrow her money giving notes 
therefor and assuring her that it would 
be forthcoming when she got ready to go 
to Germany. She represented, that she 
had an abundance of property and it was 
thrice secured. The sum now amounted 
to over $1,400 and Fanny had set a time 
to go, notifying her step mother, who 
wrote her the money would be all ready. 
Music pupils were dismissed, business 
matters arranged and she was ready to 
depart. 

The Money Gone 

But what was the poor girl's chagrin 
and disappointment when she called for 
her money and was told there would be 
a little delay in getting it. There was 
no help for it and she had to wait; the 
date was fixed anew when she could get 
it and also a new date for the journey. 



'i'liat time came but still no money — 
nothing but promises. It was about this 
time she heard the further unpleasant 
fact that her step mother was so fixed 
financially that the money was not col- 
lectible l)y law and that there was but 
a remote possibility of her ever getting 
it at all. 

This was a crvishing blow to Fanny; 
all her Ijright anticipations dashed to 
naught — all her days and nights of toil 
and privation — broken health — tired body 
and mind all endured in vain — nothing 
hut black disappointment. 

Driven from Her Father's Roof 

This diseouragenieni and her naturally 
frail condition of health, together with 
the mental strain, affected her health so 
that she did not feel able to teach. In 
this condition she went sometime last 
July to her father's at the Plain par- 
sonage four miles west of this place where 
Dee ring had preached for two or three 
Aoars past. 

She thought to rest, regain her health 
and perhaps plead with her step mother 
to get her at least a part of her money, 
which Fanny fully believed she could 
l)ay if she would. She soon began to 
realize that she was none too welcome 
e\en in lier own father's house. They 
had her money but did not care to be 
troubled with her presence. From cool- 
ness of treatment came bitter words, until 
at last Fanny received cniel blows and 
A\as driven from her father's roof, her 
trunks put in the wagon shed and the 
doors locked and even nailed against her 
and she was told they would not pay 
lier. 

To get her away peaceably her father 
engaged her board at a near neighbor's, 
^Ir. Lowes, for a short time, but Fanny 
at last had to become responsible for the 
payment. This cruel treatment on the . 
part of her father, seemed to crush her 
proud spirit and she seemed heart broken, 
blatters went on in tliis wav until Jan- 



19G 



THE PIONEER 



uary, during which time Fanny had been 
heard to express intentions on her own life. 

On January 13, she went in despera- 
tion to her father's again, and went to 
a chamber room she had been in the 
habit of occupying, and some time later 
it was noised among the near neighbors 
that she was very sick and dying. She 
had taken laudanum enough to kill two 
persons, and after three days of careful 
nursing and care she was restored, al- 
though for a time it was supposed she 
was past help. 

She had made all preparations for 
death, and among the papers left, sealed 
and addressed to a neighbor woman, was 
one addressed to her step mother. It 
shows the extent of her sufferings for the 
deep wrong that she felt had been done 
her, and is sufficient to draw tears from 
a cast-iron monument. It may be proper 
to say here that the lady never sent the 
letter to the step mother. 

We extract as follows: 

* * "You knew that I had denied 
myself of all that a girl and woman 
craves, and worked myself all but to death 
to gain just one chance, and yet you 
deliberately robbed me of the fruit of 
seven years' toil for that one object. You 
snatched my last, only hope from me, and 
now you tell me you have done nothing 
you regret or would have done different- 
ly ! Oh, what can you be made of ? 
Though you knew that my strength was 
Ijroken and worn out in labor to support 
YOU and your husband, that you had 
torn away my last hope and motive for 
life, and left me broken-hearted and des- 
pairing, yet, not content with refusing 
me the barest necessities of life, you 
pursued me with a relentless brutality. 
You knowingly goaded me on to despera- 
tion and death by every means your two 
natures could jointly devise. Night after 
night have I heard you two conjure upon 
ways and means to torment and injure 

Deering was admonished then that 



something should, be done to prevent 
her taking her own life but he made a 
cold, unfeeling reply and he even refused 
to build a fire to warm the room where she 
lay, and the ladies who were trying to 
save her life were so uncomfortable that 
they could not remain long in the room at 
one time. He seemed to feel indifferent. 

After this, Fanny was treated harsher 
than before. ^Vhen she got well enough 
and went back to Lowe's near by, the 
doors at the parsonage were kept con- 
stantly locked and nailed up. Her trunks 
were out in the shed and when any one 
knocked at the door Deering or his wife 
first looked out of the window to see 
who was there. 

The Thursday previous to her death 
Mrs. Deering had invited a few members 
of the church society to spend the even- 
ing. Each one noticed as they came in 
that the door was locked behind them. 
Later in the evening as they sat talking, 
the back door opened quietly and who 
should enter but Fanny looking like a 
hunted deer. She was greeted cordially 
by the guests, but hardly a look of re- 
cognition did she receive from her step 
mother, who, the moment of the girl's 
entry, stared at her with a look of spas- 
modic agitation. Deering could conceal 
his feelings better and nodded a good 
evening. No one asked Fanny to a seat 
or to take off her hat. All the time 
Fanny was there Mrs. Deering seemed 
to tremble from head to foot with ex- 
citement and agitation. 

Did that woman, Mrs. Deering, know 
at that time what Fanny came there for? 
She acted as if she did. She knew that 
Fanny carried, and had carried for weeks, 
a pistol with her in a little box. The 
neighbors had noticed that box. 

Was She Urged to Suicide? 

Mrs. Deering certainly knew what was 
in that box and must have guessed pretty 
certainly what it was for; she did not 
fear violence on herself or Deering as 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



197 



will be seen by an incident farther on. 
No ; in onr belief she feared the girl 
wanted to take her life, and, of course, did 
not wish to have it happen in her house. 
If she thought poor, friendless, robbed 
Fanny was on the verge of suicide — we 
say if she thought so — Deering must 
have shared her suspicion. And if they 
thought so, did they care ? Did they 
realize what it was that was driving the 
broken-hearted being on to desperation? 
— that she knew they were fixing to go 
to Minnesota soon, and that her father, 
whose slave she had been and who was 
her only natural friend and protector on 
earth, liad inhumanly steeled, his heart 
and hand against her, that his wife had 
got all her hard, hard earnings, and 
that lanir. In'oken in heart and 
pennik^ss. this j)roud-spirite(l, anilntious 
girl was to be turned adrift on the world 
alone, to struggle on as best she could 
or go to the poor house. 

Beaten Like a Dog 

If tliey did tliink of these things then 
their sins will be greater, for instead of 
offering Ijalm to her bleeding heart she 
was subjected to further degrading, 
cruel, inlnnnan treatment — to blows, like 
a brute. We relate an incident as giving 
a probable clue to the life the girl had 
been subjected to while under her father's 
roof and from the woman who had taken 
her money from her. It was not enough 
that the food was hidden from her, that 
she was denied fire to make her com- 
fortable — she was beaten, beaten like a 
brute, for the most trivial offense. 

Knocked Her Down 

The Saturday before Fannx's death 
Mrs. Carr called at the parsonage to 
spend an hour, and while there Fanny 
asked her if she was fond of hickory 
nuts. She went and brought some, and, 
finding nothing to crack them on, she 
thoughtlessly cracked one or two on the 
heavy stove hearth. Without a word of 
warning the step mother sprang like a 



tigress from her chair at the sewing ma- 
chine, a few yards away, and beat Fanny 
about the head brutally, and finally 
knocked her over so she fell in her 
visitor's lap, and the shameful scene end- 
ed, Mrs. Deering saying: "I'll teach you 
to crack nuts on my stove hearth." 

The following Monday morning the 
step mother left for Elmore because, as 
is l)elieved by many that she was, as we 
hinted previously, apprehensive of what 
would happen and left. The next day, 
Tuesday, 

Fanny was a Corpse 

Shot through the heart b}- her own hand. 
Al)out the middle of the forenoon Mr. 
(*arr, who was engaged on his place ad- 
joining the parsonage, happened to look 
up from his work and saw Fanny's face 
at the window, where she seemed to be 
kneeling, whether in the attitude of 
prayer or not he did not know. A short 
time after, he heard a pistol shot, but 
not very distinctly, to which he paid but 
little attention, thinking it some boys in 
the road beyond the house. That was 
the last time Fanny was seen alive and 
was the last time she gazed on the light 
of day or on an unkind world which she 
bade a last farewell. 

Mr. Carr' says her pale, sad face as he 
saw it through the window glass is, in 
the light of what followed, engraven on 
his memory like an image, never to be 
effaced by time. 

She had risen in the morning, combed 
her hair, and attired herself neatly, hav- 
ing the previous evening written to 
several intimate friends and given minute 
directions as to the disposition of her 
personal effects, also of her body. 

A Letter of Farewell 

One of these letters, to Mrs. Harvey 
Condit, which begins with allusions to 
another friend, Mrs. Prentice, and which 
was published in the Toledo Bee, is as 
follows : 

"Don't let her know of my death till 



198 



THE PIONEER 



it is nocessarv. tShe and many others 
will mourn my said error — as they will 
call it — 1)iit they must remember that 
one cannot judge correctly of a person's 
error unU'ss ihey are familiar with his 
imderstanding. They would feel differ- 
ently if they knew the greatest and best 
part of me. All joy and hope was dead 
long ago. 

"It is better tliat the fragment left, go 
with the rest. I cannot live without the 
love and tenderness that may never be 
mine. ]f I could have attained my am- 
bition and fitted myself for some posi- 
tion of usefulness that I could fill, it 
might — probably would — have been very 
different; but now I only know enough 
to be a drudge all my days, and I have 
no heart or strength to drudge, even if 
there were any use in it. 

"I could never go into the world again 
to endure and contend with all a lonely 
woman must. I have for years — ages it 
seems — felt that some clay it must come 
to this, but could not' give up till I came 
here. This summer has showed me more 
plainly wliat I already knew — that there 
was nothing else for me. God only 
knows how desperate and bitter the 
struggle has been, and I am tired to 
death. My furniture is willed to a 
friend who will not care for my stove I 
think. * * * 

"i should be so glad to help dear Mrs. 
Carr. If I had it to do again I would 
distribute my few things differently than 
I have, Init I can not change without 
more botlier than it is really worth, for 
I have but little for any one. When you 
see Minnie Minton, give her my love, and 
tell her I look eagerly for a letter from 
her until the day I die. I am so disap- 
pointed not to hear from her again. Her 
friendship and sympathy have been much 
to me. The gold pin I spoke of giving 
her I have given to another friend for 
whom I seemed to have nothing else. 
Minnie will have enough to remind her 
of me. 



"I thought of giving some books to 
Ben (Minton) but as I haven't very 
many it seems best that they should go 
together. Please give the German pa- 
jx'rs to Mrs. Prentice. * * * * 

"Your company has lightened and 
ciieered many sad hours for me. I owe 
}ou much. I can make no return, but I 
am grateful for all the kindness and 
^^ynij)atliy I have received here. Farewell. 
"F. L. Deering." 

The above was written in pencil, luit 
the following postscript was written in 
ink. 

"I beg you to do what you can to keep 
the manner of my death a secret, as far 
as may be. I believe you will do this 
for my sake. I never intended that any 
one should know about it wdien I used 
to think about it, but it cannot be helped 
now. I realize and feel the disgrace as 
keenly as anybody possibly could," 

To Her Father 

The letter addressed to her father, 
which shows the deep sense of wrong she 
I'elt. concludes as follows: 

- * * "You are, undoubtedly, the one 
person living who hid his daughter's food 
in the house, even to hickorynuts and wal- 
nuts picked by her, and told her you be- 
grudged her every mouthful she ate, after 
her whole life had been sacrificed to your 
selfishness. Live to remember that you 
did all this, and infinitely more, to me 
the day before I died; that you forced me 
to spend my last days on earth in hunger 
and wretchedness. The time will come 
when this will be impressed on you, but 
not in this world. Eemember that one 
sign of honor or uprightness, one fatherly 
look even, Avould have saved me from 
this. When I was sick here I heard you 
say I ought to be pounded half to death, 
and you wished you could pound me to 
death. You have killed me by inches. 
Are you satisfied?" 

These letters were all addressed and 
sealed up in a large package and sent 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



199 



by a neighbor's child to Mrs. Lowe, so 
that they reached her house about the 
time of Fanny's death or soon after. 

So Ends the Sad Chapter 

Who is to blame, and how far the re- 
sponsibility for the dead, rests on the 
living the reader must judge. We have 
no comments further than to say that 
Fanny was shamefully wronged by her 
father and step mother, and they can 
render to the public and to God to whom 
they must answer, no adequate justifica- 
tion. 

We know it may be said that Fanny 
was of age and had no legal claim for a 
home and support from her father; grant 
this to be all true. Yet she was his 
child, sick and homeless, made so by 
efforts to support him and help him and 
if the embers of human sympathy had 
not been dried and burned up in his 
heart he would have shared the last crust 
of bread with her instead of turning her 
away. 

And his wife, what shall be said of 
her? Had she dealt even as one despised 
Jew deals with another, given Fanny the 
money she had taken from her, Fanny 
Deeriiig would today lie alive, a happy, 
useful woman. 

The broken-hearted girl died in the 
belief that her step mother had deliber- 
ately planned to incumber her property 



with trumped up mortgages to her sons 
in order to prevent the collection of this 
money which she grudged to see the girl 
get. As to the truth of this we do not 
pretend to know or say. We are simply 
relating this to show the influences that 
worked on the unfortunate girl's mind. 
That she was insane or ever showed the 
least symptom of shattered reason the 
neighbors do not believe. They say it is 
a trumped up story to break the force 
of damning sentiment, which lies against 
Deering, justly or unjustly. 

Doubtless the girl had brooded over 
her disappointment, her ill treatment and 
desertion till it affected her already shat- 
tered health and became a constant sor- 
row and burden which she could not 
shake off. She was kind and gentle to 
all, hut especially to children and aged 
peojilc, and there apj^ears to be not a 
person who has ever associated with her 
but what loves and respects her, except 
her father and step mother, who deliber- 
ately drove her to despair. 

The sentiment in the community 
there since the tragedy has been very 
strong against Deering and his wife and 
on Saturday night a Ku Klux crowd 
visited his house but found no occupants. 
He had prudently absented himself, but 
there were plenty of signs left tliat the 
party was well supplied with tar and 
feathers. 



THE LOOMIS MURDER 



Long Search for Arthur J. Grover, the Mur- 
derer Pays the Penalty at Columbus 
Story of the Crime 



ON May 14, 1886, at the Columbus 
penitentiary, Arthur J. Grover 
paid the extreme penalty of the law, by 
hanging for the murder of Granville G. 
Loomis. From the Wood Countv Sen- 



tinel of May 16, 1886, the following ac- 
cotint of the murder is condensed : 

Saturday afternoon, about 2 o'clock 
May 9, 1885, a man was found lying 
dead in a pasture lot about half a mile 
northeast of the Empire House, Stony 
Eidge, Wood county. Every indication 
showed that the man had l)een most foul- 
ly and deliberately murdered. His body 
lay on the sod at full length, his right 
leg crossed over his left, his hands folded 
over his breast, and his head resting on 
a rock cropping out of the surface of 



200 



THE PIONEEE 



the ground. The face and head were 
mangled beyond recognition, evidently 
for the purpose of preventing identitica- 
tion. A large boulder weighing over 
twenty pounds was on the ground near 
by, on which there were traces of blood 
and hair. With this rock the mutilation 
had evidently been accomplished. 

The body was conveyed, to the Empire 
House and the clothing all removed in 
search of some clue that would lead to 
identification. The stockings were pe- 
culiar in their construction, and on each 
one was discovered a strip of white cloth 
about two inches in length, on which was 
printed with a stencil the name of "Gr. 
G. Loomis." This was the single clue 
that led eventually to the discovery of 
the murderer. 

The body had evidently laid where it 
was discovered a number of days, for 
the grass under it was yellow. The cool 
weather for a number of days previous 
had evidently delayed decomposition. 

Many theories were advanced regard- 
ing the tragedy, after the inquest, and 
the fact was pretty clearly establii?hed 
that the unfortunate victim had been 
murdered for his money. On the 13th, 
Sheriff Brown received a letter from 
Edwin Goddard, of Ashtabula, saying a 
man answering the description of the 
dead man and bearing the name of Gran- 
ville G. Loomis had been staying at Or- 
well, that county. The next day a letter 
came from Will F. Bahcoek, Orwell, giv- 
ing the minute description of Loomis, and 
stating that he had left Orwell on the 
27th of April in company with a man 
named Arthur J. Grover, a chap who 
bore a pretty hard name, and also that 
the two had fled in the night, to escape 
some delits about the town, and that they 
had driven a cream colored Texas pony, 
hitched to a buck-board. 

About this time, a party of four gentle- 
men from Ashtabula county came here to 
look into the matter. They were R. E. 
Stone and Z. C. Parker, of Orwell and 



Fran]-: Luce, a brother-in-law of Loom- 
is, and deputy-sheriff S. A. Squires, of 
Ashtabula. They immediately identified 
the clothing of the murdered man as 
Loomis' and expressed the opinion that 
he had been murdered by Arthur J. 
Grover. This point settled in the minds 
of the officers, the next question was how 
to catch the murderer. The Ashtabula 
county parties stated that prior to their 
departure from Orwell Grover and Loom- 
is had talked a good deal about going to 
Dunn county, Wisconsin, where Grover 
claimed to have some land. Sheriff 
Brown and Prosecutor R. S. Parker be- 
came convinced that if Grover was the 
murderer he would drive the horse and 
buck-board through to Menominee, Wis., 
where his parents and brothers and sis- 
ters lived. It was thereupon agreed 
among the officers and friends of the 
murdered man, that Sheriff Brown and 
deputy Sheriff Squires of Ashtabula, 
should proceed to Wisconsin and wait for 
the man to come. Accordingly on May 
19th, the two officers left this place quiet- 
ly and for the next month Sheriff Brown 
was somewhere in search of Loomis' mur- 
derer. 

It is too long a story for us to repeat 
here, the many trials, vexations, and dis- 
appointments they passed through during 
their long search among the swamps, 
huckleberry brush, mosquitoes and sand 
flies of northern central Wisconsin. How 
they had to travel about from one place 
to another, constantly on the lookout for 
their man, and yet daring to make but 
few confidants; how, in order to elicit 
certain facts they were all the time in a 
feverish state of internal excitement and 
hope, which they seldom dared express, 
lest Grover's friends might learn their 
mission and warn their man in time for 
him to escape. Had Grover committed 
the crime one day sooner or one day later 
in the course of their travels, we will 
venture the assertion that he would now 
be at large, and his victim occupying 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



201 



an unknown grave. But it so happened, 
that he murdered his man within the 
jurisdiction of the officers of Wood coun- 
ty, and when he was captured in the far 
off woods of Wisconsin, he awoke to a 
knowledge of the fact that he had been 
hunted down bv a man who did not 
know what it was to give up a chase. 

On the ITth of June, Mr. Squires gave 
up all hope of catching tlieir man, and 
started for home. Soon after Squires 
had started for home, G rover was caught 
bv a man named Sam. McCahn, a gen- 
tl(>man to whom they had confided their 
story, at Fall Creek, a small town about 
40 miles from Menominee. MeCahn 
knew Squires had started home and so 
telegraphed him and Sheriff Brown at 
Prairie Farm, where he had gone that 
day. Both men arrived at Fall Creek 
that night, where they found Grover, 
with Loomis' pony, buck-board and a 
host of small trinkets and belongings, 
which were subsequently identified as 
the property of Granville G. Loomis. 

Sheriff Brown arrived home with his 
man on Wednesday, June 24111, having 
come from ^ladison, Wis., without sleep- 
ing and almost without eating. Then 
came the most difficult task of all. The 
collecting of sufficient circumstantial evi- 
dence to convict their man. 

Prosecutor Parker obtained the ser- 
vices of F. A. Baldwin to assist him in 
the case, and they with Sheriff Brown 
and deputy Dunn spent many days and 
nights in consultation and in weaving 
the web of testimony that eventually 
brought the murderer to the gallows. 
When the grand jury met in September 
Grover was indicted for murder in the 
first degree. 

The Trial 

Was like tlie unraveling of a strange 
and dreadful romance. All who heard 
it said it was the most fascinating case 
they had ever heard. The testimony of 
the witnesses for the state was like the 
leaves of a book. All were neccssarv to 



the complete work, and all were placed 
in just where they belonged; and when 
every page had been carefully read to the 
jury, and the book was closed, it was 
plain to everyone who had heard it 
throughout that the doom of Grover was 
sealed. So perfect was the chain of evi- 
dence as adduced by the state, and yet so 
justly and fairly handled during the 
trial, that Messrs. Parker and Baldwin 
were highly complimented by Judge 
Dodge, and the Judges of the Circuit 
Court before whom it came, as was also 
Sheriff Brown for the gallant work he 
had done in bringing the criminal to 
justice. 

After very able pleas by all the attor- 
neys in the case, and a charge from 
Judge Dodge, which was marked by its 
fairness and showed a great depth of 
thought over the trial, the jurj- retired 
and were out 20 hours, when they re- 
turned a verdict of guilty of murder in 
the first degree. Judge Dodge then sen- 
tenced Grover to be hanged on April 9, 
at the penitentiary. 

Grover's attorneys argued a motion 
for a new trial before the Circuit C(nirt 
at Tiffin, in March, but the court found 
r.o error in the case, and, as they liad 
granted a suspension of sentence, order- 
ed the sentence to be executed on ^lay 
14th. ]\Iessrs. Tyler and Canary went 
before the Sui^reme Court and there 
argued a motion for a new trial, but that 
court also refused to interfere, and so 
the sentence was executed as above 
stated. 



Gen. Anthony Wayne was not the 
reckless, daring commander, which might 
he supposed from the names given him 
by the Indians "Mad,"' "The Thunder- 
er," "The Whirlwind." On the contrary, 
he was prudent, far seeing, methodical 
in his preparations, but when in action, 
no obstacle was allowed to thwart his 
purpose. 



202 



THE PIONEEE 



ROCHE DE BOEUF 



Its Historic Glamour Destroyed by the Largest 
Solid Concrete Bridge in the World. 



THE Lima & Toledo Traction Com- 
pany has erected at Eoche De Boenf 
a bridge of one unbroken mass of steel 
and cement from shore to shore. In giv- 
ing an account of its construction, the 
Toledo News-Bee says: 

"That historical and famous up-river 
landmark, Eoclie De Boeuf, has been 
practically obliterated by the construction 
of this bridge. All the glamour and 
beautv of this famous rock has been 



taken away by commercialism, in the 
shape of a traction bridge. This famous 
beauty spot of JSTorthwestern Ohio is now 
liemmed in on one side by a string of 
twenty-two ice-breakers, 13 feet square, 
and on the other side by one of the bridge 
})iers, which actually cuts out about 15 
or 30 feet from the side of the rock. Its 
ijeauty as a landmark is gone, and now, 
instead of towering out majestically at 
the head of the Eapids of the Miami, as 
it was wont to do during centuries past, 
it seems to be creeping and hiding its 
head in shame back of a pile of con- 
crete and steel, well calculated to dispel 
forever the glamour of legendary romance 
that has hung about the famous rock 
from time immemorial." 



UP THE MAUMEE 



Unsuccessful Attempt in Running a Steamer 
on the Upper Maumee 



THE story that a steamboat once went 
up the Maumee past Waterville, 
Otsego and Gilead, seems to us of to-day 
like a legend, based mostly on fiction. 
The Maumee of to-day Avith its naked 
projecting rocks, dams, rapids and riffles 
and muddy water, is not the Maumee 
of 50 years ago. Once the river and its 
banks on either side were the highways 
of a vast commerce between the Lake 
and the Wabash country. 

Scows, pirogues and canoes, ladened 
with valuable stores, brased its current 
from Fort Wayne to Perrysburg, and 
in winter or low stages of water, the car- 
rying of stores, passengers and merchan- 
dise gave employment to a vast army 
of teamsters, horses and wagons. The 
distance from Fort Wayne to Perrys- 
burg was 100 miles. The round trip 
with team and loaded wagon usually oc- 
cupied 8 or 9 days, and various expe- 



dients were resorted to by shippers to 
avoid this slow and expensive way of 
shipping goods,' previous to the building 
of the canal. 

The Steamer Sun 

It was in the summer of 1837 that an 
enterprising man, a captain, brought to 
the river a little canal-boat-built steam 
craft, constructed at Eochester, IST. Y., 
and astonished the natives along the 
river by the bold declaration that he was 
going up the Maumee. After passing 
Fort Meigs, Buttonwood Island, and the 
Prosque isle riffles, the little boat's shrill 
whistle loudly proclaimed her i)resence 
at the lock in Nearing's dam just below 
Miltonville. 

After much trouble and by tlie assist- 
ance of ropes and tackle block, and much 
pulling and puffing, the Sun got into the 
mill pond above the dam, where, on the 
4th of July, 1837, she was employed in 
giving the assembled people free rides 
back and forth across the river. When, 
finally she resumed her up-river course 
she met trouble again at Eush-te-boo 
rapids. A part of her freight was taken 
off and hauled around to Otsego by 




ROCHE-DE-BOEUF 

As It Appeared Before Building the Cement Bridge Over It — Here 
Was Held Wayne's Council of Wat 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



205 



wagons. A rope and fall block was car- 
ried off to the boat from a tree at the 
shore and then horses were hitched to 
the rope, and in this way and with the 
assistance of men on shore the little craft 
ascended successively, Rush-te-boo Rapids, 
Wolf Rapids and Bear Rapids at Otsego, 
and finally landed safely in deep water 
above Gilead, where for a time she plied 
between that point and Flat Rock, below 
Defiance. 

Funeral Incident 

At Gilead later in the season, the Cap- 
tain was taken sick with the Maumee 
fever and died. There was so much 
sickness that there were hardly well ones 
enough to take care of the sick and bury 
the dead. Daniel Barton, now of Milton, 
and Capt. Alva Gillett, who had a 
line of hacks on the mail route, sent a 
team to take the dead Captain to the 
grave near John Kimberlin's. When the 
burial party arrived, the two men who 
had been sent forward to dig the grave 



were found lying near a tree shaking 
with the ague and the grave was not dug. 
Some of the men took the spades and 
went to work in the hard clay. It was 
a very hot day and the mosquitoes and 
flies were so bad that they nearly drove 
horses and men crazy. Before the grave 
was completed some more of the men 
took the shakes, and Mrs. James Donald- 
son, whose husband was one of the party, 
carried water for the sick and for those 
at work at the grave, and it was with 
much difficulty that the burial was finally 
made. 

The little steamboat stood the Mau- 
mee racket better than her master, and 
after a time ran down the river again 
and plied between Perrysburg and Vis- 
tula, now Toledo. 

Another small boat called the Crockett 
attempted the ascent of the river, but 
never got above the Milton ville dam, and 
thus ended all attempts at steam naviga- 
tion on the Maumee above Perrysburg. 
—C. W. E. 



INDIAN CHARACTER 



No Mercy for a Murderer They Will Not 

Be Burdened With the Old 

and Helpless 



AMONG his many interesting remi- 
niscences, J. F. Dubbs relates the 
following, taken from the Sentinel: 

If any member of the Indian tribes 
committed a murder and escaped, they 
would follow him from year to year if 
necessary, until they would capture him, 
and then he would be condemned to die. 
The rule was that the nearest relative to 
the murdered man would have to take the 
life of the murderer. I believe that an 
occurrence of this kind took place at 
Tontogany. The wife of the murdered 
man was selected to slay her hus- 



band's murderer, and when the time 
came, she stepped forward and seized the 
long knife made for the purpose with its 
long shining blade, and standing in 
front of him she raised the knife and 
plunged it into his heart. They were 
following out the old law which said, 
"An eye for an eye and a tooth for a 
tooth; and ho who sheds man's blood by 
man shall his blood be shed." And as 
Paul says, "Those having not the written 
law, make a law among themselves." 

When one of them gets old and sick so 
that he cannot hunt or fish, they would 
kill him so that they might not be bur- 
dened with him in their oft removals 
and excursions. I recollect one day an 
old Indian came to my father's. He 
could talk a little so we could understand 
him. He said, "Indian sick." Mother 
asked him, if sick why not stay with his 



206 



THE PIONEER 



people and have them take care of him. 
He said, "If Indian stay me die/^ 
And he was asked why and he said, 
*'They will kill Indian;" that "when 
Indian get sick and old and no hunt and 
no fish any more, they kill Indian." 

We gave him something to eat and he 
went off and we saw him no more; but 
only a short time afterward a new made 
Indian grave was found near their camp 
and we always supposed that they found 
him and killed him as he said they would. 
Some one may ask how we could know 



that it was an Indian grave. It waa 
known by the peculiar marks on the 
trees and by the trinkets found on the 
stakes arovmd the grave. Any of the old 
pioneers can give a minute description of 
an Indian grave; when they bury one of 
their number they put all the parapher- 
nalia for hunting and war in the grave; 
the l^ow and arrow, the tomahawk, and 
the scalping knife and belt, for they saj- 
they will need them to use in the "Happ} 
hunting grounds beyond the River." 



PRESBYTERIAN JUBILEE 



Celebration in 1905 of the Fiftieth Anniver- 
sary of the Presbyterian Church in 
Bowling Green — Poem by Mrs. 
C. W. Evers -Mrs. Bald- 
win's Letter 



THE jubilee services at the Presby- 
terian church celebrating the fifti- 
eth anniversary of the organization of 
the church, were held in the latter part 
of November, 1905. In his address Rev. 
E. E. Rogers gave an interesting history 
of the church, from its organization of 
thirteen members, no one of whom were 
then living in Bowling Green, Many 
letters of regret were read from members 
in distant localities. 

Among the proceedings Robert Dunn, 
Sr., read the following poem by Mrs. C. 
W. Evers: 

The fiftieth anniversary, and the Jubilee 
tonight 

Ering to mind a little village, that has 
long been out of sight. 

No bells disturbed the quiet, no shrill 
whistles filled the air. 

No steam cars and electric, no machinery, 
rumbled there. 

"The pathless woods surrounded, the habi- 
tations few, 



And flowers wild abounded, 'til the city 

limits grew. 
We can scarce believe the fact it was once 

our Bowling Green, 
Where this church was organized, with 

the number of thirteen. 

We are here to tell the story, as each has 

seen or heard. 
Of the progress and the glory, of God's 

own Holy Word, 
Will bring from memory's pages, those 

whose hands the work begun. 
With lioarts all full of love, for the bet- 
terment of man. 
That little band of Christians worked 

with zeal and iron will; 
They are resting from their labor, but 

their good works follow still. 
Boys and girls in countless numbers have 

been guided to the right. 
Ami will testify in honor, of the sleeping 

ones tonight. 

Could those dear old charter members 
scan the hamlet from above. 

It would be to see great churches in har- 
mony and love. 

Six thousand souls arc wanted, and the 
workers at the wheel 

Are praying without ceasing, in one earn- 
est long appeal. 

They would see the brave Endeavors, that 
sturdy branch who thrive. 



SCKAP-BOOK. 



207 



Witli wondrous untold power, within 

their active hive — 
Tlie outgrowth of example that will never 

cease to be 
And they're marching grandly forward 

to the next great Jubilee. 

Tile Sabbath school's broad numlie pro- 
tects the young today, 
TJie seed so early sown, shows no sign of 

a decay. 
Knowledge gained along the pathway, 

has never yet been feared, 
And the hosts of its instructors, are 

dottbly more endeared. 
Faithful ministers and choirs, that have 

toiled night and day, 
^^'hile man}', ! so many, have been 

gently laid away. 
From the work that never falters, but 

like the surging sea. 
With its billoM's rolling onward, to all 

eternity. 

Mrs. Baldwin's Letter 

A letter was read, written by Mrs. 
Jane Baldwin, wife of the first minister 
of the church. At that time she was 
over eiglity years of age. From that let- 
ter we quote : 

With pleasure I comply with your re- 
quest that 1 write some account of the 
early history of the cliurch my husband 
organized and was for ten years the first 
pastor of — a history full of delightful 
reminiscence and events which are as 
fresh and distinct in memory as are the 
scenes of yesterday. 

Fifty years ago Bowling Green had but 
one building that could by courtesy, be 
called a church. This was small and un- 
attractive and was used during the week 
for entertainments of various kinds and 
often on Sabbath morning the odor of the 
atmosphere indicated the character of the 
gathering of the previous evening. 

Families could '"walk to the House of 
God in company," bitt at the church door 



tliere was a separation for the men seated 
on one side and the women on the other. 
Hymn books were few in number and 
the hymn, if not a familiar one, was gen- 
erally "lined" by the minister. 

The building was owned by the Meth- 
odist church and we were kindly per- 
mitted to occupy it, on alternate Sab- 
baths, and our congregations were prac- 
tically the same, as there was no other 
service in the town. 

We had a large union Sitnday school 
and Mr. Solon Boughton was the faithful 
and beloved superintendent from its 
formation. 

Family reitnions and social gatherings 
were frequent and informal. The quilt- 
ing bee and the hitsking party varied the 
monotony of country life. In time of- 
sickness or when the Angel of Death 
Ijroitght distress and affliction neighborly 
kindness and sympathy were itnfailing 
and abundant. 

From its beginning Bowling Green 
constantly, and more or less rapidly, in- 
creased its population and was fast be- 
coming the business center of the sur- 
rounding country and even at that early 
day, some, with prophetic vision, were 
inclined to look forward when it would 
become the county seat of W^ood county. 
Our church shared in its prosperity and 
increased in members and in influence. 

With growing impatience we eagerly 
looked forward to the completion of our 
house of worship, which with great self 
denial and sacrifice, was being erected on 
the lot where the present beautiful 
church now stands. 

It was an occasion of great joy when 
we felt that we had a home of our very 
own. It was dedicated February 8, 
1860, with no indebtedness except for the 
$200 loaned by the Church Erection 
Board, and this was paid in annual in- 
stallments. At the evening service of 
the dedication, I well remember our de- 
lightful sttrpriso in finding our church 
lighted with kerosene oil. It seemed like 



208 



THE PIONEER 



a blazu of glory in comparison with the 
dim light of the tallow candles to which 
we were accustomed. 

Notes 

Mr. and Mrs. S. L. Boughton were 
among the most prominent and active 
members in the building np and the wel- 
fare of the Presbyterian church. Mr. 
Boughton assisted in the organization of 
the Sunday school, on the 8th of April, 
1860, was its first superintendent, and as 
such continued for a period of 25 years 
or more. 

The first instrument used in the 
church was a little melodeon. Later, 



j\Iiss Mary Day, who had a relative who 
was an organ dealer, was instrumental in 
securing a reed organ, which for some 
years she played. 

The first communion set used by the 
church was the gift of Mr. Baldwin. 
This was in use for eighteen years, until 
1873, when the church received the pres- 
ent of a communion set from the Sunday 
school of the First Presbyterian church 
of rtica, N. Y. 

The bell which is still in use, was the 
present of Mr. P. J. Latchaw in the name 
of his wife, and was presented in April, 
1874. 



LIFE OF A RECLUSE 



Abram D. Edgerton Among the Earliest Pio- 
neers — Peculiar and Eccentric Sad 
Romance of His Life 



AMONG the few who settled on the 
sand ridges which skirt the old 
Keeler Prairie in Plain township, was 
Abram D. Edgerton, a young man, about 
22 years of age, who came out from Ash- 
tabula county with his father and step- 
mother in the year 1834. The Edger- 
tons, like the Holiingtons, found shelter 
with the Mitchells, who had just come 
in until they built a cabin, which stood 
on the north side of the Weston ridge 
road at the place known as Carr's cor- 
ners. The father of young Edgerton 
soon sickened and died, and some years 
after he and his step-mother sold out 
their possession to Joshua Carr, and the 
step-mother went to Michigan friends, 
where she died. 

A Great Favorite 

A1)ram, who was quite a general favor- 
ite among tlie early settlers, remained 
here, for he had no other home; in fact 
no relatives except a brother who had 
located at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 



Edgerton was of a very social turn at 
times and was a mechanical genius; just 
such a man as was invaluable in a pio- 
neer settlement. He could "tinker" a 
clock, solder a tin pan, fix a gun, set and 
splint a bone, lance an arm or carbuncle, 
tell a good story, sit up with the sick, 
teach writing school — in fact, do almost 
anything that was necessary to be done, 
and "Brom," as he was called, was wel- 
come to dinner or a night's lodging 
wherever night chanced to overtake him 
in the settlement. When Bowling Green 
started up he engaged in the capacity of 
clerk in the store of L. C. Locke for some 
time, after which he taught a term or so 
of school. He was a fair English 
scholar and an elegant penman. He then 
engaged in house-painting as a trade, and 
accumulated considerable property. At 
one time he made an expensive tour 
south in search of his brother, who had 
died in the meantime of yellow fever. 
After learning this fact he returned and 
was more unsettled than ever. This left 
him without father, mother, brother or 
sister — in fact, Avithout any kinsmen ex- 
cept some New York cousins whom he 
liad never seen. 

Avoided Society 

He had no bad habits : neither was he 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



209 



ever known to express any religious 
views and he seldom, in later life, attended 
worship. He was singularly shy and ret- 
icent in the presence of women. He was 
social and pleasant to those females of 
his early acquaintance, but preferred if 
possible to avoid the general society of 
women. It could hardly be called an 
aversion, but it amounted to almost that 
for it grew upon him and for the last 15 
years of his life he lived by himself 
wholly alone, without the company of 
man, woman, dog or cat. He did his 
own cooking, washing and mending; oc- 
cupying his spare time at odd jobs of 
clock "tinkering" and other light me- 
chanical work. He seemed perfectly con- 
tented and happy and but seldom would 
accept the hospitality of friends, and then 
only as he made one of his periodical 
visiting rounds among the old settlers. 

At Station Island 

At one time he became infatuated with 
the gilt-edged stories told of Florida and 
her orange groves, sold his little property 
and like the adventurer Ponce De Leon, 
made a fruitless trip in the "Land of 
Flowers," only to return moneyless and 
disgusted with the home of the mosqui- 
toes, alligators and countless swarms of 
gnats and midges in that semi-tropical 
country. He then "bached" it in a little 
shanty near town and some years after 
took charge of the Findlay club house at 
Station Island on the Maumee, at the re- 
quest of the owners, and seemed to pass 
an easy, hermit-like life in fishing and 
shooting; making a few dollars for "pin 
money" by letting out club boats to little 
pleasure parties through the warm season. 

His Last Days 

He became impressed with the idea 
that a large portion of the Station Island 
was yet in the United States govern- 
ment, and was so strong in the belief that 
he borrowed money and made a journey 
to Washington to investigate the title, 



but he was disappointed and his projected 
possession came to naught and left him 
in quite straitened circumstances. To 
make matters worse a dropsical affection 
seized upon him from which time he was 
crippled in his limbs and gradually failed 
until he was unable to leave the club 
house. In this extremity the proud- 
spirited old man was a pitiable object. 

He dreaded the thought of the poor 
house or of being an object of charity. 
He declined to be removed to the home 
of any of his old friends lest he should 
make them trouble, for which he could 
not compensate them. A kind neighbor, 
Mr. Vollmer, for some weeks went each 
night and remained with him till morn- 
ing, lest he should die alone, and each 
day sent him such necessaries as he 
thought would be acceptable. He grew 
worse but still refused to be removed 
until at last, his old friend, John White- 
head, of Tontogany, went to the club 
house with a wagon and bed, determined 
to bring him away. 

The old man bowed his head and broke 
into tears, crying like a child, the first 
time he had ever been known to give up. 
After a few moments he quietly gave 
some brief directions about some of his 
affairs, and consented to go with his 
friends, where he was kindly cared for 
and nursed until his death in 1880. He 
was bright and cheerful, and remained 
conscious until the last. 

A Cherished Relic 

He was a man of many singular peculi- 
arities. He possessed a high order of 
intelligence, in many respects was de- 
voted and faithful to his friends, and 
especially devoted to the memory of his 
deceased mother, who died when he was 
less than 20 years old. He had in one of 
his trunks, what was once a beautiful 
silk dress, the property of his mother, 
and the dress in which she was married. 
This he treasured as carefully as if it 
had been gold or precious gems. It is 



210 



THE PIONEER 



said, by those who knew him best, that 
there was 

A Secret Romance 

Connected with his early life — a love 
affair, which, if known, would explain 
much of the singular life of this old man 
whose last days were saddened with the 
thought that he was without home, kins- 
men or natural protectors. 

In the old Plain cemetery in an almost 
forgotten grave, rests the ashes of a lady, 
who was once the bright, cherished idol 
and admiration of him whose sad story 
we have told. He loved her with a devo- 
tion that knew no bounds and could 
brook no disappointment, and the gossips 
of that day say that she did not regard 
him with indifference, but he failed to 
gain her hand more through what a cav- 
alryman would call a lack of soldiery 
dash, than through any other cause. 
Edgertou, like many other young men. 



lacked the courage to make a gallant, 
bold dash in cavalier-like style, such as 
would carry the heart and hand of a 
black-eyed, black-haired maiden of those 
pioneer days. This prairie belle was not 
without suitors, one of whom soon sup- 
planted the bashful, hesitating Edgerton 
and carried her off. 

She lived many years and seemed 
happy, but not so he who once loved her 
and still in the depths of his heart loved 
her and when she died the canker of sor- 
row preyed upon him, but no murmur 
escaped his lips. A few words which he 
dropped a short time before his death to 
an old acquaintance and friend furnishes 
a key to his untold secret and explains 
somewhat the story of his fickle, purpose- 
less, though harmless career. His book 
is closed forever. He will be remember- 
ed kindly among all the old pioneers as 
a kind neighbor, a faithful friend and an 
inoffensive citizen. — C. W. E. 



SUCCESSFUL SCHEME 



Didn't Propose That Henry County Should 
Benefit by a Wood County Wolf 



A WOLF incident is told in the Wood 
County Tribune by J. F. Dubbs, 
illustrative of the schemes the settlers 
isometimes resorted to, to make an honest 
dollar in those days when money was so 
scarce. Across the swamp in Jackson 
township, lived his uncle, John Dubbs, 
who raised stock and the wolves gave 
him much trouble. He finally located 
their hiding place in the wilderness 
where Deshler now stands, and built a 
wolf pen of logs, so that when a wolf 
jumped down through a hole left in the 
top, to get the bait, which had been 



placed inside to appease his hunger, he 
could not get out. 

One day as the great bear hunter, Sam 
Edwards, and his son, were passing that 
way on one of their great chases, he came 
to a halt at the wolf pen where Uncle 
John had a wolf entrapped which he was 
trying to take alive. 

"Why not kill him and save the 
bother," said Edwards. "Well, sir," said 
Uncle John, "I find that my pen is across 
the Henry county line. Wood county 
gives a bounty of $10 and Henry county 
does not, and I am not going to bring 
Wood county wolves over to Henry county 
to kill for nothing." 

The wolf was taken alive by Uncle 
John, carried over to Wood county, 
where it no doubt had been boarding on 
Uncle John's live stock, and its thieving 
scalp soon after adorned the wall of 
Uncle John's cabin. 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



211 



A LOAD OF COONS 



Brought Relief and Made a Handsome Pay- 
ment on Land 



THAT old-time pioneer, J. F. Dubbs, 
of Milton Center, had a wide expe- 
rience in the hardships of Wood county's 
early days, and could tell many remi- 
niscences of the hard winters, the sickly 
season, the loss of crops, the destitution, 
the lack of roads, markets, schools, or 
medical aid when sickness or accident 
came, all of which bore on the new set- 
tler with disheartening weight. Some 
perished from disease; some fled; others 
staid and fought it out. 

In writing to the Wood County Tri- 
bune, Mr. Dubbs says when his father 
died, he and his brother John, both young 
fellows then, bought together 160 acres 
of land in Jackson township, on easy 
terms of payment. 

They worked hard and got out 40 or 
50 acres of crop, but a wet season swept 
away all their labor and seed and a pay- 
ment of $200 and interest at 6 per cent 
on $1,000 was to be met the following 



spring. They didn't know what to do. 
There were no employment bureaus then 
— no chance to sell one's labor for cash — 
nobody had any cash in fact. 

So the boys possessed themselves of a 
couple of hunting dogs, one of which had 
been trained to locate a coon-tree by 
scent — that is, the keen-scented animal, 
in passing through the forests day time 
or night, would locate the trees where 
the coon had taken up its winter home. 
The wet seasons in Liberty prairie, wliile 
not favorable to grain crops, were very 
propitious for the frogs, and that means 
a good coon, muskrat and mink crop. 
By spring when their notes were due 
they had caught over two hundred coon, 
besides other varmints wearing valuable 
fur. They started early in the morning 
and came in late at night. The coon 
would be frozen so they could not be 
skinned, by the time they reached the 
cabin at night. So the boys threw them 
in the wagon box at the cabin door and 
covered them, and soon the wagon box 
was full of unskinned coons. 

One day a fur buyer came along and 
gave them $280 for the lot, and the note 
and interest was paid, and John and 
Jim were happy and had a lot of sport 
as well as hard work. 



"JOHNNY APPLESEED" 



Quaint Old Pioneer of the Early Northwest 
Has a Monument 



JOHNNY APPLESEED has a 
monument, says the Chicago 
Times-Herald. Future generations shall 
know of the unique mission of John 
Chapman, the Apostle "of Apples. Mans- 
field, Ohio, has rescued his memory from 
oblivion and embalmed it in a statue. 
The story of his gentle, beneficent life 



is the record of one of the quaintest, 
sweetest characters produced in the pio- 
neer west. Next to his religion, "Johnny 
Appleseed" held apples to be the choicest 
blessing vouchsafed to man. He be- 
lieved in the salvation of health by ap- 
ples. He preached the gospel of apples, 
and he practiced it. He made the young 
hinds in Ohio and Indiana bloom with 
tlic fragrant white l)lossoms of countless 
apple trees. He added untold wealth 
and happiness to generations born and 
unborn. Sage and simple, crank and 
genius, seer and vagrant, "Johnny 
Appleseed" was a penniless philanthro- 



212 



THE PIONEER 



pist, a humble benefactor of • millions. 
The cider mills of Pennsylvania were 
his Mecca, and appleseeds his quest. 
From every pilgrimage to the east he 
brought back precious sacks of seeds. 
With his own hands he cleared forest 
space for his nurseries, and when the 
trees were two or three years old, he 
distributed them broadly, sometimes in 
exchange for a bit of clothing, but more 
often as a gift. Gentle and lovable, 
friend of white and redskin, the apple 
missionary was as one crying in the wil- 
derness. He went whither he would, 
welcomed by all, and he dotted the woods 
and prairies of his kingdom with apple 
orchards. 

"Johnny Appleseed" carried on his 
work of distributing apple trees and 
appleseeds through Ohio and the Mau- 
mee Valley for twenty years or more, 
and then he followed the star of empire 
westward to continue his mission in the 
newer field of Indiana, where he died in 
1845. 

"Appleseed Johnny" was a hero, too. 
During the war of 1812 Mansfield was 
frightened by rumors of a hostile attack. 
The nearest soldiers were at Mount 
Vernon, 30 miles away, where Capt. 
Douglass had a troop. When a call was 
made for a volunteer to carry a mes- 
sage to Mount Vernon, "Johnny" stepped 
forward. The journey had to be made 
at night over a new road, that was little 
better than a trail, and through a coun- 
try swarming with blood-thirsty Indians. 

The unarmed Apostle of Apples sped 
through the woods like a runner, and 
came back in the morning with a squad 
of soldiers. It was an incident worthy 
a poem, but has been almost forgotten. 

The death of this strange missionary 
was in keeping with his life-work. The 
latter years of his life were spent near 
Ft. Wayne, where, although 70 years old, 
he continued to grow and scatter apple 
trees. He learned that some cattle had 



broken down the brushwood fence of a 
nursery he had planted. It was winter, 
and the nursery was twenty miles away,- 
but the brave old crusader started out 
on foot to save his beloved trees. He 
worked for hours in cold and snow, re- 
pairing the fence, and started to walk 
back home. He fainted from fatigue 
and took refuge in the cabin of a settler. 
It happened the pioneer had come from 
Ohio, and knew of "Johnny's" work in 
that state. He welcomed the weak old 
man, who asked only a bit of bread and 
a place on the floor to sleep. The next 
morning "Johnny" was delirious, and 
soon afterward he died of pneumonia. 
He was buried near by and a rude board 
placed over his grave, but it has long 
since crumbled into dust, and the site 
of the burial is unknown. 



"Johnny Appleseed" 

The following was written by James 
Newton Matthews, and dedicated to the 
American Horticultural Society, and 
read at a meeting in Austin, Texas, by 
Miss Regan: 

There's a hero worth the singing that no 
poet's lips have sung, 

A prophet of the wilderness whose deeds 
have found no tongue, — 

A homely, humble-hearted man — a gen- 
tle spirit sent 

To cheer the world and plant the newer 
gospel as he went, — 

A specter of the solitudes, whose bare- 
feet, where they pressed, 

Prankt with never-dying beauty the dark 
borders of the West, — 

A Druid of the Valley, but as worthless 
as the wave. 

Scorning comfort — seeking nothing for 
the good things that he gave, — 

A poor old, plodding pilgrim of a brave, 
unselfish breed, 

God showed the way, and shod the feet 
of Johnny Appleseed. 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



213 



I touch the stainless record with a deli- 
cacy due 

To the reverence that bows us, when 
the great soul comes to view — 

How pales our petty passions and ambi- 
tions, when we scan 

The garnered love that glitters from one 
guileless-hearted man ; 

And such was he to whom we pay the 
tribute of a tear, 

The orchard-planter of the West — our 
oldest pioneer. 

Whose only weapon of defense against 
a war-like race. 

Was the glow of childish innocence that 
gladdened in his face — 

And so no knight of any age that ever 
mounted steed. 

Went forth to battle better armed than 
Johnny Appleseed. 

We frame him in our fancy like a figvire 

in a dream, 
A specter on a phantom Ixiat. a-tioating 

down a stream — 
A little fat-faced fellow, with a ruddy 

cheek and chin, 
And a funny little "mush-pot" that he 

poked his round head in — 
With hair as black and frowsy as a bat's 

wing dipped in tar, 
And eyes as sharp and sparkling as the 

twinkling of a star — 
With a body plum]) and pudgy, as the 

picture of a Turk, 
And a sprightly Puck-like motion, punc- 
tuated with a jerk — 
Such seems the meager outline of the 

man of whom we read. 
In the legends handed down to us of 

Johnny Appleswd. 

So tender was the heart of him, so gen- 
tle, and so just. 

He would not harm the vilest thing that 
wriggled in the dust; 

He quenched his camp-fire on the hills, 
for fear the beetles mig-ht 



Get scorched against the flames of it in 

their uncertain flight; 
"Tis said he even spared the snake whose 

venomed fangs he felt, 
And all the air was soft with love and 

pity where he dwelt; 
The pappoose prattled on his knee — the 

panther on the limb 
Seemed conscious of his harndessness, 

and only glared, at him — 
And thus along the world he went, as 

destiny decreed, 
And happy in the life he led, this Johnny 

Appleseed. 

Thro" every forest where he passed he 

scattered germs that grew 
To blooming benedictions, as he drifted 

on into 
The gloomy regions farther west, that 

swallowed him from sight. 
As a cloud absorbs a star-beam, in the 

silence of the night; 
He sank into the solitudes, like some re- 
mem Ijcred strain. 
That warmed the heart an instant, and 

was never heard again; 
But when the pippins glimmer in the 

brown October days, 
Ohio's hills and valleys pulse the old 

apostle's praise. 
And the people pushing after him, with 

lifted voices plead 
For purposes as pure as those of Johnny 

Appleseed. 

A song for Johnny Appleseed I who left 
a living trail 

Of beauty everywhere he went, in moun- 
tain and in vale; 

Thro* many a vanished summer sang the 
birds and hummed the bees 

Amid the bending blossoms of his liroad 
old appletrees, 

Before the tardy vangiuird of the fore- 
most pioneers 

Came to pluck the welcome fruitage in 
that wilderness of theirs; 



214 



THE PIONEER 



A health to Johnny Appleseed ! and may And as long as poor humanity stands 
his glory be naked in its need, 

Eegrafted in the years to come, on Life's God send us souls as white as that of 
eternal tree, Johnny Appleseed. 



MAYOR ANDREW ROACH 



One of the Strong, Energetic Executive 
Officers of Perrysburg 



AFTER a long and painful illness, 
Mayor Andrew Roach passed from 
life at his Perrysburg home on Saturday 
morning, September 14, 1901, diabetes 
being the cause of death. 

Mr. Roach was born in Ireland, in 
1833, and had he lived until the 5th of 
ISTovember, would have been 68 years old. 
His parents moved to Kingston, Canada, 
in 183T, whore he lived for 10 years. In 
1848 he moved to this state, and for 
several years was engaged in railroad 
building, and in 1859 located in Perrys- 
burg, where he has since resided. 

He was twice married. To the first 
union three daughters and two sons were 
born, all of whom preceded him to the 
world beyond except one sqn, Edward, 
aged 43, who resides in Dayton. His 
second wife died a number of years ago 
leaving one son, Andrew, Jr., now Sheriff 
of Wood county, who with Edward Roach 
of Dayton, are the only children who 
survive the father, and they, with one 
sister of the deceased, Mrs. Birk of Day- 
ton, were present at his bedside at the 
time of dissolution. 

During his life Mr. Roach had been 
a very active citizen. In politics he was 
an ardent Democrat and at various times 
held the offices of Mayor, Councilman, 
member of school board, library board, 
and gas trustee. In every position he 
held he has been a credit to himself and 
the people he represented. 

He was a member of Plioenix lodge 



No. 123, Free and Accepted Masons, 
since February 16, 1863, and for three 
years was Secretary of the lodge, and 
during this long term had always been 
held in high esteem by his brethren. 

In his earlier life he was engaged in 
railroad building, and was in charge of 
the construction of the Dayton and 
Michigan railroad from Lima to Toledo 
and for more than 30 years was road- 
master for the company. 

The first engine used on the road, he 
brought overland from Mad river, and 
Archie Rider of Tontogany, was the en- 
gineer. 

The funeral services were conducted 
at the late home on Sunday in charge 
of Phoenix lodge of Masons with Rev. 
Adams as chaplain and Bro. A. R. Wil- 
liams as acting Master. 

The services were attended by a large 
number of people from Perrysburg and 
neighboring towns — the members of the 
council. Clerk and Marshal attending in 
a body. 



An Error Corrected 

One writer, in describing the sieges of 
Ft. Meigs, makes the statement that after 
the first siege, which ended May 8, 1813, 
Gen. Proctor embarked his troops and 
sailed away to Maiden, but that he re- 
turned ten days later, with a force of 
5,000 whites and Indians, and that the 
second siege was abandoned May 28. 
This is an error. The fort was invested 
the second time on July 21. On the 
26th Tecumseh resorted to the trick of 
a sham battle expecting to draw out 
the. garrison, but his scheme failed, and 
on July 27, 1813, the second siege 
ended. 




FORT MEIGS 
The Natural Ravine Where (he Soldiers Were Quartered During the Siege of 181 3 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



211 



THE RIVER RAISIN MASSACRE 



f One of the Bloodiest Tragedies in the Annals 
of the War of 1812 



THE ignominious surrender of Detroit 
by Gen. Hull in August, 1812, 
caused the whole Michigan Territory, 
for the time being to pass under the 
control of the British. Under these con- 
ditions to recover and hold possession of 
the territory which Hull's unfortunate 
surrender at Detroit had transferred to 
British domination, and expel the invad- 
<^rs therefrom, and at the same time pro- 
tect the helpless pioneers from the torch 
and scalping knife, was the task imposed 
upon (ieneral Harrison, a task which a 
less fearless and intrepid leader would 
have looked upon with apprehension and 
dismay. 

Senator Burrows says the execution of 
this plan involved the penetration of an 
almost trackless wilderness, invested on 
every side by hostile savages intent only 
upon murder and rapine. General Har- 
rison was not oljlivious to the diilficulties 
and dangers of the situation. Replying 
to an inquiry as to when the army would 
advance, he said: "I am not able to 
fix any period for the advance of the 
troo])s to Detroit. It is pretty evident 
that it cannot be done upon proper prin- 
ciples until the frost shall have become 
so severe as to enable us to use the rivers 
and the margin of the lakes for the trans- 
portation of the baggage upon the ice. 
To go forward through a swam]\v wilder- 
ness for nearly 200 miles in wagons or 
on pack horses, which are to carry their 
own provisions, is absolutely impossible. 
My present plan is to occupy Upper 
Sandusky and accumulate at that place 
as much provision and forage as jiossible, 
to be taken from thence upon sleds to tlu' 
River Raisin." 

In the extcution of this })lan. (Jciieral 



Winchester was assigned to the command 
of the advance with a force of some 
twelve hundred men, composed of the 
Seventeenth United States regulars, and 
the First, Second and Fifth Kentucky 
Volunteers, and the First Kentucky Ri- 
flemen. It will thus be seen that the 
troops of Kentucky bore a most conspicu- 
ous part in the initial movement of the 
campaign. 

At the Rapids 

It had been determined by the General 
in command as a step in his advance up- 
on the enemy, to concentrate his forces 
on the Maumee, and to that end General 
Winchester was directed to take position 
at the Rapids, fortify the place and hold 
it as a depot for supplies and a base of 
operations of the army in its advance 
into the enemy's country. 

On the 10th of January, 1813, Win- 
chester, in the execution of his orders, 
reached the Rapids of the Maumee, es- 
tablished and fortified his camp and 
awaited the arrival of supplies and the 
remainder of the command. While thus 
encamped, disquieting rumors came from 
the inhabitants of Frenchtown, a little 
hamlet of less than thirty families, and 
where the thriving city of Monroe now 
stands, to the effect that the British 
forces at Maiden, across the border, only 
eighteen miles distant, were about to 
move on the defenseless inhabitants of 
Frenchtown. Upon the confirmation of 
these rumors an a])])eal was made to Gen- 
eral Winchester to go to the defense of 
the panic-stricken ])eople. General Har- 
rison was sixty-five miles away, and 
therefore could not be consulted, and the 
troops were impatient for the advance, 
and General Winchester, responding to 
the humane im])ulse of his troops, on 
the 18th of January, 1813, ordered 
Colonels Lewis and >\.llen, with GHO men, 
'•to hasten to their dt'fense, attack the 
enemv. l)i'at thnu and take possession of 
Frenchtown and hold it." Wb.en the 



218 



THE PIONEER 



American forces reached Frenchtown 
they were confronted by 200 Canadian 
militia with their 400 Indian allies, pre- 
pared to resist the consummation of this 
purpose. 

A Temporary Victory 

Though confronting an enemy supe- 
rior in numbers, Winchester's forces cross- 
ed the Eiver Eaisin on the ice and in 
a fierce engagement drove the British 
and their savage allies from the town 
and took possession of the abandoned 
camp of the enemy. The conduct of our 
troops on this occasion elicited from the 
historian the declaration that the disci- 
pline of the troops ''amply supported the 
double character of Americans and Ken- 
tuckians." The twelve Americans killed 
and the fifty-five wounded testify to the 
severity of this engagement. 

Although a temporary victory had been 
won, yet the position of our troops was 
exceedingly perilous, being only twenty 
miles from Maiden, the headquarters of 
the enem3^ from which point reinforce- 
ments would be readily and swiftly for- 
warded. Yet the heroic band, after an 
informal council of war, deliberately de- 
termined to hold the place at all hazards 
and await reinforcements. 

Winchester was immediately advised 
of conditions, and on the 19th of Jan- 
uary, with 300 men, hastened to the 
support of his decimated forces at 
Frenchtown, arriving there on the 20th. 
On the following day, the 21st, news 
was brought to Winchester that a large 
force of British and Indians had left 
Maiden and were on the march towards 
Frenchtown and had already reached 
Stony Creek, and would be at the vil- 
lage before dayliglit the following morn- 
ing. General Winchester refused to 
credit these rumors and confidence 
and repose settled down over the doomed 
American camp. Before the break of 
the following day the report of a sen- 
tinel's musket sounded the alarm and 



dispelled the illusion of security, and 
the roar of shell and rattle of musketry, 
mingled with the yells of the savages, 
proclaimed the presence of Proctor's 
forces, and sounded the 

Death Knell of the Americans 

Let History record the slaughter that 
followed: ''No rule of civilized warfare 
was observed. Blood and scalps were 
the chief objects for which the Indians 
fought. They seemed disposed not to 
take any prisoners. A party of fifteen 
or twenty, under Lieutenant Garrett, 
after retreating about a mile, were com- 
pelled to surrender, when all but the 
young commander were killed- and 
scalped. Another party, of forty men, 
were more than half murdered under 
similar circumstances. Colonel Allen, 
wlio had been wounded in the thigh in 
the attempt to rally the troops, after 
abandoning all hope, and escaping about 
two miles in the direction of the Mau- 
mee, was compelled, by sheer exhaustion, 
to sit down upon a log. He was observed 
by an Indian chief, who, perceiving 
his rank, promised him protection if he 
would surrender without resistance. 
He did so. At the same moment two 
other savages approached with murder- 
ous intent, when, with a single blow of 
his sword, Allen laid one of them dead 
upon the ground. His companion in- 
stantly shot the Colonel dead. 'He had 
the honor,' it was said, 'of shooting one 
of the first and greatest citizens of Ken- 
tucky/ " 

Proctor's Infamy 

The last act, however, of this horrible 
tragedy was yet to be performed. In the 
struggle Winchester had been taken pris- 
oner, and Proctor, by threats of further 
slaughter and extermination of his en- 
tire command, induced Winchester to 
sign an order directed to Major Madison, 
the next in command, and who was still 
heroically defending his position, to sur- 



SCBAP-BOOK. 



219 



render the entire force as prisoners of 
war. This order borne by one of Gen- 
eral Winchester's staff, accompanied by 
General Proctor himself under a flag of 
truce, was carried to Major Madison, 
who refused to obey the order, saying, 
'"It has been customary for the Indians 
to massacre the wounded and prisoners 
after a surrender; I shall, therefore, not 
agree to any capitulation which General 
Winchester may direct, unless the safety 
and protection of all the prisoners shall 
be stipulated/' To this refusal Proctor 
replied, "Sir, do YOU mean to dictate 
to ME?'' Madison answered, "I mean 
to dictate for myself, and we prefer sell- 
ing our lives as dearly as possible rather 
than be massacred in cold blood." 

Thereupon Proctor promised protection 
to all the prisoners, and pledged his 
honor as a soldier to the performance of 
the obligation. It is needless to say that 
the pledge was not redeemed. 

Without relating the story of the mas- 
sacre of the helpless prisoners after the 
surrender, in shameful disregard of 



Proctor"s plighted faith, and without 
reciting the deeds of individual heroism, 
which characterized the actors in this 
final scene, the awful truth stands re- 
cordi'd that on this field, out of a force 
of 934 Americans, only 33 escaped, while 
nearly 4U0 were massacred and the bal- 
ance taken prisoners. 

Thus ended a conflict which will go 
down the ages as one of the bloodiest 
tragedies in the annals of war. The re- 
sult here, although our forces were de- 
feated, opened the way later for the ad- 
vance of our army, the recovery of De- 
troit, the invasion of Canada and the 
defeat of the British forces on the 
Tliames, with the death of Tecumseh. 



Ann Austin, of Cygnet, aged 103 
years, died some years ago. She was 
one of the band of Wyandot Indians 
who came to Wood county nearly 70 
years ago. She was the queen of the 
little Indian settlement. 



THE BATTLE IN CANADA 



The Scenes That Closed the Memorable Con- 
flict and the Death of Tecumseh 



IN an address by Col. Bennett 11. 
Young, delivered at Monroe, some 
years since, he thus describes the closing 
scenes of the battle of the Thames that 
ended Gen. Harrison's remarkable cam- 
paign : 

Shelby and his Kentucky army report- 
ed to Gen. Harrison at Perrysburg on 
the 14th of September, 1813, and re- 
mained at Put-in-Bay until the 27th, 
when leaving their homes at Portage 
river, they embarked on Commodore 
Perry's fleet, landed at Maiden on Eng- 



lish soil and began the pursuit of Proc- 
tor and Tecumseh, who after Perry's 
glorious victory began a retreat eastward 
toward Hamilton. 

With the 3,000 Kentuckians Gen. Har- 
rison and Gov. Shelby began on October 
1st the hunt of Proctor and Tecumseh 
in earnest. The dismounted militia vied 
with Johnson's regiment in making the 
pursuit vigorous. Many portions of the 
march were passed at half run, and one 
day they covered twenty-five miles. 
Thamesville was a small settlement east 
of Detroit on the English highway from 
Hamilton to Detroit, 63 miles east of 
the latter place and 12 miles from Lake 
Erie. Here on the afternoon of October, 
1813, the English and Indians were 
brought to bay. 

Proctor had with him the 41st British 



220 



THE.PIOXEER 



regiment. They had been at Eaisin. 
These he placed on the main road; Te- 
cumseh had 1,800 Indians; these were 
assigned to a place in a swamp at right 
angles to the main road. Johnson''^ 
Kentucky mounted riflemen, 1,200 in 
number, held the front line of the Amer- 
ican advance, while the five brigades of 
dismounted men were a few hundred 
feet behind. Proctor was with the Brit- 
ish forces 1,500 feet away from the front 
of his line. 

Pursuit of Proctor 

The hour for action had come. Be- 
hind, weary marchings of four hundred 
miles, full of self-denial and unchanging 
privations, before them, enemies arous- 
ing an immeasurable hate. Every heart 
was full of memories of savage brutality 
and cruelty to relatives, friends and fel- 
low citizens for a quarter of a century. 
The horrible massacre of the Eaisin, its 
indescribable barbarity and its fiendish 
inhumanity was painted on every soul, 
and the spirit of its slain victims seemed 
to ride side by side in martial proces- 
sion with these living horsemen, fate's 
avengers, chosen to inflict punishment on 
its ferocious perpetrators. 

The atrocities of Fort Meigs were not 
forgotten, and the cry of the Kentuck- 
ians, tortured and murdered by the sav- 
age red men within the sight of British 
officers, and coolly tomahawked or shot 
while helpless and defenseless in their 
very presence, seemed to beseech heaven 
for a just and complete revenge upon 
those guilty of such unspeakable horrors. 

Among Kentuckians now aligning for 
conflict were men who had looked upon 
all that was awful at Raisin and terrible 
at Fort Meigs. Some had shared in the 
humiliation of Detroit's surrender, and 
had witnessed their country's flag and 
honor sullied by Gen Hull's cowardice 
and imbecility, while others had endured 
the trials^ insults and torture of British 
prisons. All were anim.-itpd by the high- 



est courage and truest patriotism. The 
generous impulses of brave and chival- 
rous souls impelled every man to the 
noblest discharge of duty, and every ear 
was listening with absorbing interest for 
the sound which should call them to 
battle with their detested foes. 

''Remember the Raisin!" 

In the fierce charge there was but one 
cry oft repeated, but rising each time in 
sharper and quicker tones; "Remember 
the Raisin — Remember the Raisin." 

These avenging warriors, catching the 
enthusiasm and delirium of combat, rose 
high in their stirrups, and plunged their 
spurs into the flanks of their chargers as 
they approached their enemy, still more 
furiously, waved their guns aloft and 
with their voices made stronger and 
stronger by the excitement of their im- 
petuosity, cried the more vehemently, 
"Remember the Raisin." "liemember 
the Raisin." 

A quarter of a mile away at the rear, 
in the edge of the forest, along the trail, 
was the commander of the British regu- 
lars. General Henry A. Proctor, who 
was responsible for the revolting butch- 
cry and brutality at Raisin and Meigs, 
came to Canada as the Colonel of a 
British regiment, and his atrocities have 
never been reproved by his government. 
For his conduct at Raisin he had been 
promoted to a brigadier-general. 

His ear was quick to detect danger. 
He knew his fate if the Kentuckians 
(many of whom had sworn that he should 
not be taken alive) should capture him. 

Proctor's Flight 

He distinctly heard the tramp of 
Johnson's mounted men, and his ear 
caught that portentous and to him fate- 
ful cry, "■Remember the Raisin." Dis- 
mayed, he watched and waited for the 
result. He saw one line brushed out of 
the path of the horsenuMi or rush in 
confusion upon the second line. He be- 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



221 



held this last line disappear and the 
black hunting shirts and grey hunting 
breeches of the Kentuckians as they dis- 
mounted and turned upon his stricken 
and helpless grenadiers, and then with 
his cowardly conscience impelling him, 
he turned his horse's head eastward and 
accompanied by a small guard of horse- 
men precipitately fled toward Burling- 
ton. Hard pressed by Major DeVall 
Payne, he abandoned his baggage and 
followers and fled through the forest to 
escape capture. His ignominious con- 
duct brought upon him the contempt of 
his associates. He was tried by court 
martial, disgraced, and deprived of pay 
for six months, and was publicly re- 
prinumded by his superiors by order of 
his government. 

A Bloody Conflict 

A sterner conflict and more sanguin- 
ary fate awaited the second battalion of 
J ohnson's regiment. 

This was formed in two columns, on 
horseback, while one company was dis- 
mounted and on foot placed in front of 
the right column, which was led by Col. 
Johnson. The front of each column 
was something like 500 feet. At the 
head of the column led by Johnson was 
a company on foot. While in front of 
those mounted was what was known as 
the "Forlorn Hope,"' in the courage and 
gallantry of which on that day was writ- 
ten one of the most heroic and sublimely 
brave acts which had ever been recorded 
of Kentucky men. 

The "Forlorn Hope'' consisted of twen- 
ty men. Col. Johnson himself rode by 
its side. It was led by the grand old 
pioneer, William Whitley. 

These twenty men with Col. R. M. 
Johnson, and the pioneer William Whit- 
ley, at once advanced to the front. The 
main line halted for a brief space, until 
this advance could assume position, and 
when once they were placed, at the com- 



mand, "Forward, march," they quietly 
and calmly rode to death. 

In. the thickets of the swamp, in which 
lay Tecumseh, and his red soldiers, they 
peered in vain for a foe. Not a man 
stirred, but the ominous silence betoken- 
ed only the more dreadful fire when the 
moment of contact should come. 

Along the narrow space they advanced. 
Stunted bushes and matted and deadened 
grass impeded their horses' feet, but 
these heroes urged their steeds forward 
with rapid walk, seeking the hidden foe 
in the morass that skirted the ground 
upon which they had aligned. 

Fate of the ** Forlorn Hope" 

A loud, clear, savage voice rang out 
the word "Fire."' The sharp crackling 
of half a hundred rifles was the response,, 
and then the deafening sound of a thou- 
sand shots filled the air. The smoke 
concealed those who fired the guns but 
the murderous effect was none the less- 
terrible. Of the twenty, one alone es- 
caped unhurt or failed to be unhorsed. 
A mass of fallen, struggling horses, a 
company of wounded, dying men lay side- 
by side. The bleeding beasts whinneyed 
to dead masters, and wounded masters 
laid their hands on the quivering bodies 
of their faithful steeds. Of the twenty, 
fifteen were dead, or to die. Their lead- 
er with a dozen wounds, still sat erect, 
his judge advocate, Theobald, close to 
his side. The remainder was lost in the 
battle's confusion. 

The "Forlorn Hope"" had met its fate. 
Its mission was to receive the fire of 
the savages, when their fellows and com- 
rades might safely charge upon the red 
men with guns unloaded. Its purpose 
had been fulfilled. 

The five hundred and fifty men of 
Johnson's battalion were reinforced by 
quite a number of volunteer infantry- 
men from Trotter's, Donaldson's and 
Simrall's regiment, who hearing the fir- 



222 



THE PIONEER 



ing and the shouts both of the Indians 
and white men, rushed to the assistance 
of their comrades. 

For a quarter of an hour the result 
of the battle seemed in doubt. Eighteen 
hundred Indians in the swamp and on 
their chosen battlefield, behind trees and 
fallen logs, did not hesitate to throw 
down the gage of battle to the six thou- 
sand Kentuckians who now advanced to 
the assault. 

As the lines were pushed along through 
the morass, Col. Johnson saw behind a 
fallen tree, an Indian chief, who with 
vigorous words of command and loud 
cheers and most earnest encouragement 
was urging the red men to stand firm 
against the assaults of the white men. 

Death of Tecumseh 

At the head of the column opposing 
these men, Johnson still sitting upon 
his white mare, rode around the tree and 
advanced upon the red man. At the first 
fire he had lost by a wound the use of 
his left hand, in which he would carry 
his bridle. The Indian placing his gun 
to his shoulder immediately fired and 
added another to the many wounds al- 
ready received by the gallant Kentuckian 
.and then having exhausted his trusty 
rifle, with uplifted tomahawk, he ad- 
vanced upon the white man, who, al- 
though wounded, was now riding upon 
him fearlessly and rapidly. The savage 
jerking his tomahawk from his side, and 
waiting for no assistance except his own 
strong arm backed by his courageous 
soul, rushed upon Col. Johnson to strike 
him from his horse, but when he had 
advanced within four feet, Johnson let- 
ting his horse loose, seized his pistol from 
his helpless left hand and fired its con- 
tents into the breast of the Indian. Be- 
ing loaded with one bullet and three 
buckshot, at such close range, and pierc- 
ing the heart of the Indian, he instantly 
fell dead. Some said it was Tecumseh. 



He was certainly a great leader, and 
it was at this time that somebody in the 
battle killed Tecumseh. 

The red men with amazement looked 
upon the sudden and unexpected death 
of their valiant chief. They heard no 
more his shouts of encouragement, saw 
no more the gallant wave of his hand, 
and with utter alarm and despair, and 
with a great cry of disappointment they 
rushed from the battlefield. 

A Crushed, Defeated Foe 

Tecumseh was dead. The Indian 
power was crushed. Proctor was in 
cowardly flight and disgrace as a man 
and soldier. The red men had by a 
lesson never to be forgotten, felt the 
power of the white man's strong arm, 
and learned that no British agency could 
save him when the white man undertook 
his punishment. The red men were 
humbled and their hopes destroyed. 
The great northwest was free. Michigan 
was the white man's possession by right 
of conquest, and by the power of the 
sword had been made forever a part of 
the American Eepublic. 

The British soldiers who had com- 
mand at the shameful massacre of these 
knightly Kentuckians, were now prison- 
ers and were to march as captives over 
this battlefield, where their barbaric 
cruelty and brutality had done so much 
to blacken the name and honor of their 
nation, and in the end to be prisoners 
of war in the penitentiary of the state 
wliose soldiers they had ruthlessly allow- 
ed to be murdered, while their savage 
allies whom they had incited to kill, burn 
and seal]), whik' men. wliile women and 
even children, whose only ott'ense was io 
be an American, were hiding in the path- 
less woods of Canada and Michigan to 
avoid the white man's wrath. 

Eaisin Mas remembered; Eaisin was 
avenged. 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



223 



JAMES H. PIERCE 



Life and Death of One of Wood County's 
Sterling Citizens 



JAMES PIERCE, of Perrysburg, ex- 
commissioner of Wood county, to 
whom more than any other individual 
are tlie farmers of Wood county indebted 
for tlie present magnificent system of 
ditching, died very suddenly and unex- 
pectedly at his home on Sunday after- 
noon. May 6, 1894. 

Whether through premonition, or 
otherwise, is not known, but previous 
to Sunday Mr. Pierce had requested that 
all members of his family be invited to 
dinner on that day, which was accord- 
ingly done. 

In the forenoon he repaired to a room 
on the upper floor, which he was wont 
to occupy during the daytime, either to 
read or sleep. At dinner time his grand- 
son went to summon him, but finding 
him asleep, he returned and the meal 
was eaten in his absence. An hour and 
a half later his daughter Mattie went 
to the room, and seeing her father lying 
in a reclining position she approached 
him, only to be horrified by the discovery 
that he was dead. 

Drs. Hamilton and Rheinfrank were 
immediately summoned but found that 
life was extinct; he had probably been 
dead about an hour, death coming as a 
sweet sleep without pain or struggle. 

Mr. Pierce was a native of New York 
State, where he was born December 19, 
1831. When three years of age his pa- 
rents moved to Blissfield, Mich. In 
1846, he moved to Shelby county, where 
he commenced life in a practical way, 
and from the age of 13 to 26 years he 
was employed on the Wabash canal, the 
latter part of which time he was cap- 
tain of a packet boat, the "Sidney Belle." 



On March 6, 1855, he was united in 
marriage to Miss Sarah Guy of Sidney, 
Ohio, who with a family of six daugh- 
ters survive him. In 1857 he came to 
Perrysljurg township, and located on the 
]>iko where he engaged in the lumber 
business, and continued in it until 1872, 
when he was appointed Commissioner to 
fill the unexpired term (3 months) oc- 
casioned by the death of Commissioner 
Eber Wilson. At the expiration of this 
term he was elected Commissioner for 
two years, and was afterward re-elected 
for two 3-year tenns, and has been re- 
garded as one of the very best Commis- 
sioners who ever filled that important 
office in Wood county. 

After that he served as Mayor of 
Perrysburg, and member of Board of 
Education of that village, and was again 
elected to the Union school board at the 
spring election and at the time of his 
death was also a member of the Board 
of Township Trustees. 

For several years he was proprietor of 
the Exchange hotel of Perrysburg, and 
was known throughout the country as a 
genial and popular host. 

His family consisted of a kind and 
loving wife, six daughters, Mrs. Emma 
•J. Norton^ Mrs. Carrie A. Thompson, 
Mrs. Jennie E. Priest, and Misses Fran- 
ces A., ^lartha A., and Cora M. Pierce, 
all of whom were present at the time 
of his death. 

Mr. Pierce was a member of Phoenix 
Lodge, No. 123, F. & A. M. of Perrys- 
burg, and his funeral services were con- 
ducted by the members of that order, 
under the direction of Master John H. 
Thornton, the sermon being delivered by 
Rev. G. A. Adams, the chaplain of the 
lodge. A large number of the members 
of Phoenix lodge were in attendance and 
visiting members from neighboring 
towns were also present. 

James Pierce was a man of character 
in every station in life; honest, coura- 



224 



THE PIOXEER 



geoiis and a whole-souled man wher- 
ever you found him. He was one of the 
best known men of Wood county and 
filled a niche in public affairs which few 
men have had the honor to fill. For a 
number of years he had retired from 
active work, and was living contentedly, 
surrounded by most of his children. 



The funeral was one of the largest 
ever held in the village. The floral offer- 
ings being numerous and of beautiful 
designs — the last tribute to a beloved 
and departed citizen, neighbor and 
friend. Every business house in the vil- 
lage was closed during the funeral. — Per- 
ry sburg Journal. 



JUDGE H. H. DODGE 



Sketch of His Life — Tributes of Respect to 
His Memory 



AFTER a lingering illness of several 
months the life of Hon. H. H. 
Dodge came to a peaceful close on Mon- 
day, May 16, 1904, about 3 o'clock p. m. 
Of late, says the Perrysburg Journal, Mr. 
Dodge had seemed to be in better spirits 
and health than for some months and a 
few days prior to his death visited rela- 
tives in Bowling Green in company with 
his wife, when he had a most enjoyable 
time. On Friday, May 13, he was strick- 
en with paralysis from which he did not 
recover, but sank rapidly until death 
came as a happy release. 

Henry H. Dodge was bom February 
4, 1830, at Pompey Hill, Onondaga coun- 
ty, New York. He received his early 
education in his native town and at the 
age of 16 was sent to the St. John's 
College, conducted by the Jesuit Fath- 
ers, New York City, from which he was 
graduated in 1849. After a couple of 
years spent on the farm with his father 
he began the study of law with Victor 
Birdseye of Pompey Hill. 

He came to Perrysburg in 1852 and 
finished his law studies with the firm 
of Spink & Murray, being admitted to 
the bar in 1855. Upon the death of Mr. 
Spink, Mr. Dodge became a partner of 
James Murray, which partnership con- 



tinued until Mr. Murray's election as 
Attorney General of Ohio, in 1859. In 
1860 he associated himself with the late 
James R. Tyler until 1869, then with 
Edson Goit, now deceased, and Jasher 
Pillars of Bowling Green. 

In 1877, Mr. Dodge was elected Judge 
of the Common Pleas court, holding this 
position for a term of ten years with 
marked distinction. 

Upon retiring from the bench he 
formed a partnership with John W. 
Canary of Bowling Green, which lasted 
until his removal to Perrysburg in De- 
cember, 1897. Here he thought he might 
retrieve his health surrounded by the fa- 
miliar scenes, in his old homestead, on 
the banks of the beautiful Maumee. 

In 1857 he was united in marriage 
with Sarah Hodge Wilkinson, and to them 
were born two children, Mary E. the old- 
er, wife of Ernest G. Miller of Creede, 
Colorado, died in December, 1893, leav- 
ing two children Hobart and Mary to 
the care of her parents. Frederick G., J 
the younger, general agent for the Bloch 1 
Bros. Tobacco company of Wheeling, 
West Virginia. 

Judge Dodge was a devoted husband 
and father and was never happier than 
when surrounded by his family. He 
was a member of the Catholic church, 
strong in his religious beliefs, a con- J 
sciencious character. i 

The Wood County Democrat pays the 
following tribute: 

"Politically he was an ardent Demo- 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



225 



crat of the Jackson school, and his 
counsel and assistance was always eager- 
ly sought by and freely given to his co- 
laborers in the cause of the party whose 
principles he esjDoused. He was always 
courteous and manly in his demeanor, 
warmly cherished friendship, and detest- 
ed treachery with all the force of his 
strong mind. 

"He enjoyed the highest esteem of all 
who were favored by his acquaintance, 
and he will be greatly missed by the bar 
and in the everyday walks of life. It 
can truthfully be said that mankind has 
been ennobled and the world made better 
by the life of Henry H. Dodge, who 
has gone to his rest with the universal 
respect of the people among whom he 
labored, and who were witnesses of the 
honor and uprightness of his daily life." 



The funeral services were held at the 
St. Eose de Lima church Friday morn- 
ing at half past nine o'clock. 

The Eevereud Father Griss of Fos- 
toria, celebrated requiem high mass as- 
sisted by the Eeverend Father Schriener 
of Bowling Green, as deacon, and the 
Eeverend Father Mertes of Maumee as 
sub-deacon, who spoke feelingly on the 
life of the deceased. 

On account of the prominence of the 
deceased the funeral was one of the 
largest ever held in Perrysburg, being 
attended by a large concourse of friends 
and admirers from his home county and 
neighboring counties. The members of 
the Wood County bar, some accompanied 
by their wives, attended the services in 
a body. Those present from Bowling 
Green were W. S. Haskell, Jas. 0. Troup, 
F. A. Baldwin, A. E. Campbell, E. G. 
McClelland, Thos. F. Conley, B. F. 
James, G. C. ISTearing, L. C. Cole, E. 
M. Fries, Eobert Dunn, J. E. Shatzel, 
E. S. Parker, J. W. Canary. Those 
present from Tiffin were Judge Geo. E. 



Seney and Judge John McCauley. 
From Findlay, Judge Geo. F. Pendleton, 
Col. J. A. Bope, A. Zugschwert, Jason 
Blackford and Aaron Blackford. 

The pall-bearers all ex-judges who as- 
sociated with Judge Dodge at various 
times were Judge Geo. E. Seney and 
Judge John McCauley of Tiffin; Judge 
Geo. F, Pendleton of Findlay; Judge 
Frank Taylor, ISTorth Baltimore; Judge 
E. S. Parker, Bowling Green, and Col. 
Bope. 

The remains were laid to rest in Fort 
^leigs cemetery. 



TECUMSEH'S CONTEMPT 

It was at Ft. Miami that a quarrel 
occurred between Gen. Proctor and the 
Indian Chief Tecumseh. In the pres- 
ence of Gen. Proctor and other British 
officers, the Indians robbed and toma- 
hawked the American prisoners. It is 
said that the number killed without Proc- 
tor's interference at the close of the bat- 
tle, fully equalled those slain on the field 
of battle. When the prisoners were in- 
side the fort the Indians commenced 
loading their guns for a general slaugh- 
ter. At this juncture Tecumseh rode up 
and inquired for Proctor. 

"There he is," said an Indian ally, 
pointing to the British general. 

"Why don't you stop this ?" inquired 
the Indian chief. 

'"Your Indians cannot be restrained," 
said the Englishman. 

"Go put on petticoats," retorted Tecum- 
seh. "You are not fit to command 



Just above Waterville, at the lower 
end of Station Island, is a solid block 
of granite in a private burial ground. 
It is the resting place of the remains 
of "Eobert Dunlap, Soldier of the Kevol- 
utionary War," born July 28, 1752, died 
July 25, 1836. 



226 



THE PIONEER 



MAJOR GEORGE CROGHAN 



A Gallant Youngster, Not 22, After Service 

at Fort Meigs, Became the Hero of 

Ft. Stephenson 



ON August 2, 1906, Fremont, in q, 
splendid manner, commemorated 
the defense of Fort Stephenson so gal- 
gantly and successfully accomplished hy 
the valiant Major George Croghan. The 
event was attended by thousands, and 
among them some of the most prominent 
men in public life. On that occasion 
the Croghan Bank directors issued the 
following sketch of the life of the hero 
of Ft. Stephenson: 




^;^- 



COLONEL GEORGE CROGHAN 

HERO OF FORT STEPHENSON 
AUGUST SECOND, 1813 



George Croghan was born of dis- 
tinguished ancestry, near Louisville, 
Kentucky, November 15 th, 1791. He 
was a boy of manly appearance and in- 
telligence, and at a very early age de- 
veloped a strong desire for military life. 

He graduated at the college of Wil- 
liam and Mary, Virginia, July 4th, 1810, 
and entered upon the study of law. In 
1811, however, he enlisted as a private 
with the Kentucky volunteers under 



Gen. Harrison; but before the decisive 
battle of Tippecanoe he was made an 
aide-de camp to Gen, Boyd, the second 
in command. Croghan displayed such 
remarkable courage in battle that, on 
the recommendation of Gen. Harrison, 
he was appointed a captain in the 17th 
U. S. Infantry. 

In August, 1812, his command was 
ordered to accompany the troops under 
Gen. Winchester, which started from 
Kentucky to the relief of Gen. Hull at 
Detroit. Owing to Hull's disgraceful 
surrender, the plan of campaign was 
changed, and Winchester's command 
marched through the wilderness to assist 
Harrison in the relief of Fort Wayne, 
and then down the Maumee to Fort De- 
fiance, in September, 1812. In Decem- 
ber, Winchester started on the disastrous 
expedition which ended in the massacre 
at the Eivor Kaisin, January 23, 1813, 
leaving Croghan, in spite of his extreme 
youth, in command of the important post 
of Defiance. 

Captain Croghan, with his command, 
joined Gen. Harrison at the newly con- 
structed Fort Meigs, on the Maumee, and 
participated most gallantly in defending 
that fort against the combined assaults 
of Gen. Proctor and Tecumseh. During 
the siege, Croghan distinguished himself 
gj'eatly by a sortie made against a Brit- 
ish battery, in an effort to afford Col. 
Dudley's unfortunate Kentucky volun- 
teers an entrance into the fort. As a 
result of Harrison's report of this battle, 
Croghan was promoted to the position of 
major in the 17th U. S. Infantry. 

Early in July, 1813, Major Croghan, 
with his battalion, was sent to take com- 
mand of Fort Stephenson, erected in 
1812, at Lower Sandusky (Fremont), 
which guarded the approach to Fort 
Seneca, where Harrison had his head- 
quarters and stores. After an inspection 
of the fort by Gen. Harrison, Croghan 
proposed to shift its location to higher 
ground on the east side of the Sandusky 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



227 



river. Harrison refused consent to this, 
for the reason that the British were 
momentarily expected; he thereupon or- 
dered Croghan to retreat to Huron or 
Fort Seneca, should the British appear 
in sufficient force to indicate the pres- 
ence of heavy artillery. 

Just previous to the battle of Fort 
Stephenson Croghan wrote to a friend 
as follows: "The enemy are not far dis- 
tant. I expect an attack. I will de- 
fend this post till the last extremity. I 
have just sent away the women, the chil- 
dren and the sick of the garrison, that 
I may be able to act without encum- 
brance. Be satisfied. I shall, I hope, 
do my duty. The example set me by 
my Eevolutionary kindred is before me. 
Let me die rather than prove unworthy 
of their name." 

On July 30 Gen. Harrison, after 
a council of war, ordered Croghan to 
destroy the fort and repair to head- 
quarters. To this order Croghan re- 
plied, confidently expecting his letter 
would be intercepted by the British: 
"We have decided to maintain this 
place, and by Heaven we can." Gen. 
Harrison immediately sent Col. Wells 
to relieve Croghan of his command and 
order him to report at headquarters. 
There Croghan satisfactorily explained 
his insubordinate letter and was prompt- 
ly restored to his command. 

About 700 British Eegulars, many of 
them veterans of Wellington's [)eninsu- 
lar campaign, arrived on gunboats of 
Commodore Barclay's fleet; while Te- 
cumseh's Indians, 2,000 strong, swarmed 
through the woods from the vicinity of 
Fort Meigs. Gen. Proctor at once sent 
a messenger to the fort demanding im- 
mediate surrender, thereby avoiding, as 
he thought, the massacre that must sure- 
ly follow. To this was returned the 
defiant answer: "When this fort is 
taken there will be none to massacre." 

Firing began August 1st from the 
British gunboats and howitzers on shore. 



Croghan had but one piece of artillery, 
which was shifted from place to place 
to induce the belief that he had several. 
During the night of the 1st the British 
landed three six-pounders, and on the 
morning of the 2d opened fire from a 
point about 250 yards distant, directing 
their fire against the northwest angle oi 
the fort. A redout and tablet on State 
street, opposite Park avenue, in Fre- 
mont, now marks this memorable spot, 
l.ate in the afternoon under cover of 
the smoke, the British assault<'d with 
aljout 300 men of the 51st Eegiment, 
while the Grenadier battalion made a 
feint against another portion of the fort. 
The assault was most gallantly made 
under command of Lieut. Col. Short, 
who, as they leaped into the ditch, com- 
manded to "give the Yankees no quar- 
ter.'' Croghan, with only KiO men, re- 
served fire until the red coats had enter- 
ed the ditch, when he fired with such 
fatal precision that the British faltered. 
He then turned his battery of a single 
gun upon them, and the ravine through 
which they were approaching was short- 
ly filled with the dead and dying enemy. 
The British loss in killed and wounded 
was about 150, while that of Croghan 
was one killed and seven wounded. 

Tims, on the seeond day of August, 
1S13, at the age of 21 years, the heroic 
Croghan against a vastly superior force, 
won the victory that proved the turning 
])oint in the war of 1812. For this ex- 
ploit he was breveted lieutenant-colonel 
hy the President of the United States; 
Congi-ess awarded him a gold medal; 
and the ladies of Chillicothe, then tli(^ 
capital of Ohio, presented him with a 
l)eautiful sword. 

In 1825 Croghan was made inspector 
general, with rank of colonel, and served 
as such with General Taylor in Mexico, 
1846-47. 

Colonel George Croghan died in ISTew 
Orleans, January 8, 1849. To keep alive 
liis memory, Fremont, through these sue- 



228 



THE PIONEER 



ceeding years has continued to celebrate 
the second day of August. 

Fort Stephenson Park comprises the 
original fort as reconstructed by Cro- 
ghan, and contains within its stone walls 
its one cannon, "Old Betsy;" it also 
contains the monument in honor of 
Croghan, his men and those of the war 
of the Rebellion. At the base of this 
monument was placed, August 2, 1906, 
the remains of Colonel Croghan, brought 
from the family burying ground in Ken- 
tucky through the instrumentality of 
Col. Webb C. Hayes. 

Fort Stephenson is unique in being 
the only fort in this country preserved 
in its original dimension, with its orig- 
inal armament and with the body of its 
defender. 



Prof. Hulbert, in his history, claims 
that the first settlement of whites, in 



the limits of Ohio, was made near the 
present site of Maumee City, in 1679. 

The west wall of the Ottawa county 
court house is decorated with the scene 
of Commodore Perry's great victory. 

After the battle of Fallen Timber, 
Gen. Wayne returned to what is now the 
city of Ft. Wayne, and on October 22, 
1794, established a garrison. After fir- 
ing a volley from the cannons, it was 
named Ft. Wayne, in honor of the gal- 
lant commander. 

In the vicinity of Mackinaw Island 
three forts have been erected at various 
periods in sight of one another. One is 
preserved for the education and pleasure 
of future generations, while the ruins 
of the other two can be traced in the 
crumbling walls at St. Ignaee and Mack- 
inaw City. 



AN OLD CEMETERY 



Burying Ground of Indians Long Prior to tha 
Time of the White Settlers 



IISi conversation with Mr. John E. 
Gunckel, some days after he had at- 
tended the flag-raising ceremonies at Ft. 
Meigs, he said he stopped at Maumee and 
while in conversation with several citi- 
zens, a lad hailed him with, "Say, Mr. 
Gunckel, you ought to go on the other 
side, just above Ft. Meigs, down on the 
flat. The boys are gathering hundreds 
of bullets, washed out by the flood; and, 
say, one boy found a copper cent dated 
1813." The locality was visited by Mr. 
Gunckel, who found it to be just as the 
boy had said. It appears tliat down 
near the water edge, the soil had been 
washed off probably 18 inches or more, 
leaving a gravely bed. The bullets were 
strewn in a very small area. 

Mr. Gunckel's theory is that this de- 
posit of bullets was the result of a severe 



skirmish occurring in that locality be- 
tween 400 Kentuckians under Gen. Clay, 
who cut their way through British and 
Indians to reach the fort. It will be 
remembered by those who are familiar 
with Ft. Meigs history that the Ken- 
tuckians were divided — one portion led 
by the heroic Dudley to his doom, and 
the other fighting their way to Ft. Meigs. 
These bullets were undoubtedly mute 
reminders of that desperate struggle. 

An Indian Burial Ground 

In this connection may be said a word 
in regard to the unearthing of human 
skeletons at Orchard Grove, just opposite 
Perry sburg, and just below the site of Ft. 
]\Iiami, brouglit to view by the action of 
the flood. The indications are that at 
one time there was a burying ground at 
that place. It may have been used by 
the garrison occupying the fort. The 
daily press of Toledo at that time in 
giving an account of the discovery, stated 
that no one of all those who had lived 
in that locality all their lives can re- 




FORT MElGS-(HARRISON POINT) 

Where Gen. Harrison Stood Watching Colonel Dudley's Attack on the 

Opposite Side of the River 



I 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



231 



member of hearing a rumor that there 
had been a burying ground there. 

In the latter part of the Sixties or 
early in the Seventies^ the Perrysburg 
Journal recorded the fact that many 
human bones had been unearthed at that 
point, and the theory was then advanced 
that they were the bones of Indians, and 
that a burying ground had existed there 
probably many years before there was a 
settlement of whites in this region. Xo 
attempt was ever made at excavation, and 
iji course of time the matter was for- 
gotten. 

Opposite Waterville, in Wood county, 
there is evidently another burying ground 
which may ante-date tlie time of the 
Indians by many years. Its history may 
nach back to the mound builders, evi- 
dences of whose Avorks are scattered 
tl'joughout Ohio. To these builders may 
also be attributed the mound that was 
some years since unearthed on the banks 
0'' Ottawa Creek on the Michigan bound- 
ary line, and from which seven human 
skeletons were taken. These skeletons 
were of a giant type, above the ordinary 



height of Indians. The history of that 
mound may reach back several centuries 
— a history involved in the vague mysti- 
cism of the past. 



Col. Dudley's Dead 

As far as can be ascertained, the names 
of those who were killed in Col. Dudley's 
command were as follows: 
Col. Wm. Dudley, W ni. Martin, 

Thomas Burrough, Jesse Polly, 

Xichohis Moran, George Clark, 

Edward Dyhouse, Daniel Sloan, 

Benj. Ilelberson, Ewel AA'aUace, 

Eobert Heiberson, Joseph Statin, 

Corp. Anthony Snmnial, Henry White, 
Capt. John C. Montson, James Pebles, 
Sergt. Joseph George, Joseph Clark, 
Capt. Thomas Lewis, James Elliott, 
John Stevenson, John Johnson, 

Silas Fitzgerald, Walter Gregory, 

Joshua Weathers, Theodore .Niass, 

John Daugherty, James Simpson, 

Lieut. McClintock, Sergeant Scott, 

Winfield Bamm. 



A MEMORABLE ADDRESS 



Delivered by Gen. Harrison at the Great 
Fort Meigs Celebration in June, 1840 



ELSEWHERE in this volume has 
been given a succinct account by 
Mr. Evers of the celebration at Ft. Meigs 
in 1840. But one of the notable features 
of that day was the address of Gen, Har- 
rison, which can not fail to produce 
something more than a passing interest 
in every lover of the historical incidents 
of the Maumee Valley. The address 
was stenographically reported by a re- 
presentative of the New York Tribune, 
and was given in full as follows: 

Fellow Citizens — I am not, upon this 



occasion, before you in accordance with 
my own individual views or wishes. It 
has ever appeared to me, that the office 
of President of the United States should 
not be sought after by any individual; 
but that the people should spontaneous- 
ly, and with their own free will, accord 
the distinguished honor to the man whom 
they believed would best perform its im- 
portant duties. Entertaining these 
views, I should, fellow citizens, have 
remained at home, but for the pressing 
and friendly invitation which I have re- 
ceived from the citizens of Perrysburg, 
and the earnestness with which its ac- 
ceptation was urged upon me by friends 
in whom I trusted, and whom I am 
now proud to see around me. If, how- 
ever, fellow citizens, I had not complied 



2a3 



THE PIONEER 



with that invitation — if I had remained 
at home — believe me, my friends, that 
my spirit would have been with you; 
for where, in this beautiful land, is there 
a place calculated, as this is, to recall 
long past reminiscences, and revive long 
slumbering, but not wholly extinguish- 
ed, emotions in my bosom ? 

In casting my eyes around, fellow citi- 
zens, they rest upon the spot where the 
fi-allaut Wayne triumphed so gloriously 
over his enemies, and carried out these 
principles which it seemed his pleasure 
to impress upon the mind, and in which 
it has ever been my happiness humbly 
to attempt to imitate him. It was here, 
-fellow cuizens, i saw tlie banner of the 
tJnited States float in triumph over the 
flag of the enemy. There it was where 
was first laid the foundation of the pros- 
perity of the now widespread and beau- 
tiful West. It was there I beheld the 
indignant eagle frown upon the British 
lion. It was there I saw the youth of 
our land carry out the lesson they im- 
bibed from the gallant Wayne — the 
noblest and the best an American can 
acquire — to die for his country when 
called to do so in its defense. 

(At this moment the speaker's eye fell 
upon Gen. Hedges, when he said: "Gen. 
Hedges, will yovi come here? You have 
stood by my side in the hour of battle 
and I cannot bear to see you at so great 
a distance now." Immense cheering 
followed this considerate recognition, 
and the cries of "raise him up," "place 
him by the side of the old general," had 
scarcely been uttered when Gen. Hedges 
was carried forward to the stand.) 

The general continued : It was there 
I saw interred my beloved companions, 
the companions of my youth. It was 
not in accordance with the stern eti- 
quette of military life then, to mourn 
their departure; but I may now drop a 
tear over their graves at the recollec- 
tion of their virtues and worth. 

In 1793, fellow citizens, I received 



my commission to serve under Gen. 
Wayne. In 179-1 I was his aide at the 
battle of Miami. ^Nineteen years after- 
ward I had the honor of again being 
associated with many of those who were 
my companions in arms then. Nine- 
teen years afterwards I found myself 
commander-in-chief of the northwestern 
army; but I found no diminution in 
the bravery of the American soldier. I 
found the same spirit of valor in all — 
not in the regular soldier only, but in 
the enrolled militia and volunteers also. 

What glorious reminiscences does the 
view of these scenes around me recall 
lo my mind ! When I consented to visit 
this memorable spot, I expected that a 
tliousand ph-asant associations (would 
to God there were no painful associa- 
tions mingled with them) M'ould be re- 
called — that I should meet thousands of 
my fellow citizens here — and among 
them many of my old companions — met 
here to rear a new altar to liberty in 
the place of the one which bad men have 
prostrated. 

And, fellow citizens (continued the 
general), I will not attempt to conceal 
from you that in coming here I expect- 
ed that I should receive from you those 
evidences of regard which a generous 
people ^are ever willing to bestow upon 
those whom they believe to be honest 
in their endeavors to serve their country. 
I receive these evidences of regard and 
esteem as the only reward at all adequate 
to compensate for the anxieties and 
anguish which, in the past, I experienced 
upon this spot. Is there any man of 
sensibility, or possessing a feeling of 
se-lf-respect, who asks what those feelings 
were? Do you suppose that the com- 
mander-in-chief finds his reward in the 
glitter and splendor of the camp? or in 
the forced obedience of the' masses around 
him? 

These are not pleasures under all cir- 
cumstances — these are not the rewards 
which a soldier seeks. I ask any man 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



233 



to place himself in my situation, and 
then say whether the extreme pain and 
anguish which I endured, and which 
every person similarly situated must 
have endured, can meet with any ade- 
quate compensation, except by such ex- 
pressions of the confidence and gratitude 
of the people, as that with which, you 
fellow citizens, have this day honored 
me? These feelings are common to all 
commanders of sense and sensibility. 
The commanders of Europe possess them, 
although placed at the head of armies 
reared to war. How much more natural- 
i}' would those feelings attach to a com- 
mander situated as I was? For of 
what materials was the army composed 
which was placed under my command? 
The soldiers who fought and l)le(l and 
triumphed here were lawyers who had 
thrown up their briefs — physicians, who 
hatl laid aside their instruments — niL'- 
chanics, who had put by their tools — 
and, in far the largest proportion, agri- 
culturists, wlio had left their ploughs 
in the furrow, although their families 
depended for their bread upon their ex- 
ertions, and who hastened to the battle 
field to give their life to their country 
if it w^re necessary, to maintain her 
rights. I could point from where I now 
stand, to places where I felt this anxiety 
pressing heavily upon me, as I thought 
of the fearful consequences of a mistake 
on my part, or the want of judgment 
on the part of others. I knew there 
were wives who had given their hus- 
bands to the field — mothers who had 
clothed their sons for battle; and I knew 
that these expecting wives and mothers 
were looking for the safe return of their 
husbands and sons. When to this was 
added the recollection that the peace of 
the entire west would be broken and 
the glory of my country tarnished if I 
failed, you may possibly conceive the 
anguish which my situation was cal- 
culated to produce. Feeling my respon- 
sibility, I personally supervised and 



directed the arrangement of the army 
under my command. I trusted to no 
colonel or other officer. No person had 
any hand in the disposition of the army. 
Every step of warfare, whether for good 
or ill, was taken under my own direction 
and of none other, as many who now 
hear me know. Whether every move- 
nimt would or would not pass the cr;.i- 
eism of Bonaparte or Wellington, I know 
not; but, whether they would induce ap- 
plause or censure, upon myself it must 
fall. 

But, fellow citizens, still another mo- 
tive induced me to accept the invitation 
which had been so kindly extended to 
me. I knew that here I should meet 
many who had fought and bled under 
my command — that I should have the 
pleasure of taking them by the hand 
and recurring with them to the scenes 
of the past. I expected, too, to meet 
with a few of the great and good men 
yet surviving, by whose efforts our 
freedom was achieved. ' This pleasure 
alone would have been sufficient to in- 
duce my visit to this interesting spot 
upon this equally interesting occasion. 
I see my old companions here, and I 
see not a few of the Kevolutionary vet- 
erans around me. Would to God that 
it had even been in my power to have 
made them comfortable and happy — 
that their sun might go down in peace ! 
But, fellow citizens, they remain un- 
provided for — monuments of the in- 
gratitude of my country. It was with 
the greatest difficulty that the existing 
pension act was passed through con- 
gress. But why was it restricted? Why 
were the brave soldiers who fought under 
Wayne excluded? — soldiers who suffered 
far more than they who fought in the 
Eovolution proper. The Revolution, in 
fact, did not terminate until 1794— until 
the l)attle was fought upon the battle 
ground upon which my eye now rests 
(^[iami). War continued with them 
from th,' (omm-rnvment of the Revolu- 



234 



THE PIONEEK 



tiou until the victory of Wayne, to which 
1 have just alluded. The great highway 
to the west was the scene of unceasing 
slaughter. Then why this unjust dis- 
crimination? Why are the soldiers who 
terminated the war of the Eevolutiou, in 
fact, excluded, while those by whom it 
was begun or a portion of them, are re- 
warded? 1 will tell you why. The poor 
remnant of Wayne's army had but few 
advocates, while those who had served in 
the Revolution proper had many friends. 
Scattered as they were over all parts of 
the Union, and in large numbers they 
could exert an influence at the ballot- 
box. They could whisper thus in the 
ears of those who sought their influence 
at the polls : '"Take care, for 1 have 
waited long enough for what has been 
promised. The former plea of poverty 
can no longer be made. The treasury 
is now full. Take care; your seat is 
in danger." "Oh ! yes, everything that 
has been promised shall be attended to 
if you will give me your voice." In 
this way, fellow citizens, tardy, but 
jjartial, justice was done to the soldiers 
of the Eevolution. They made friends 
by their influence at the ballot-box. But 
it was different with Gen. Wayne's sol- 
diers. They were few in number, and 
the}- had but one or two humble advo- 
cates to speak for them in congress. 
The result has been, justice has been 
withheld. 

I have said that the soldiers under 
Wayne experienced greater hardships 
even than the soldiers of the Eevolution. 
This is so. Everyone can appreciate the 
difference between an Indian and a regu- 
lar war. When wounded in battle, the 
soldier must have warmth and shelter 
before he can recover. This could al- 
ways be secured to the soldiers of the 
Eevolution. In those days, the latch 
string of no door was pulled in. When 
wounded, he was sure to find shelter and 
very many of those comforts which are 
so essential to the sick, but which the 



soldiers in an Indian war cannot pro- 
cure. Instead of shelter and warmth he 
is exposed to the thousand ills incident 
to Indian warfare. Yet no relief was 
extended to those who had thus suf- 
fered. 

After the war closed under Wayne, I 
retired; and when I saw a man poorer 
than all others, wandering about the 
land, decrepid and decayed by intemper- 
ance it was unnecessary to inquire 
whether he had ever belonged to Wayne's 
army. His condition was a guarantee 
of that — was a sufficient assurance that 
he had wasted his energies among the 
unwholesome swamps of the West, in 
the defense of the rights of his fellow 
citizens, and for the maintenance of the 
honor and glory of his country. 

Well, fellow citizens, I can only say, 
that if it should ever be in my power 
to pay the debt which is due these brave 
but neglected men, that debt shall first 
of all be paid. And I am very well 
satisfied that the government can afford 
it provided the latch string of the treas- 
ury shall ever be more carefully pulled 
in. Perhaps you will ask me for some 
proof of my friendship for old soldiers. 
If so, I can give it you from the records 
of congress. When the fifteen hundred 
dollar law was repealed, I opposed it, 
as I opposed changing the pay of mem- 
bers of congress from six to eight dollars, 
until we had done justice to and pro- 
vided for these soldiers. You will find 
my votes upon this question, among the 
records of congress, and my si^eech upon 
it, in the published debates of the time. 

I will now, fellow citizens, give you 
my reasons for having refused to give 
pledges and opinions more freely than I 
have done since my nomination to the 
presidency. Many of the statements 
published upon this subject, are by no 
means correct; but it is true that it is 
my opinion that no pledge should be 
made by an individual when in nomina- 
tion for any office in the gift of the 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



235 



people. Aud why? Once adopt it, and 
the battle will no longer be to the strong 
— to the virtuous — or the sincere lover 
of the country; but to him who is pre- 
pared to tell the greatest number of lies, 
and to proffer the largest number of 
pledges which he never intends to carry 
out. I suppose that the best guarantee 
which an American citizen could have 
of the correctness of the conduct of an 
individual in the future, would be his 
conduct in the past, when he had no 
temptation before him, to practice deceit. 

iSow, fellow citizens, I have not alto- 
gether grown gray under the helmet of 
my country, although 1 have worn it for 
some time. A large portion of my life 
has been passed in the civil departments 
of government. Examine my conduct 
there, and the most tenacious democrat 
— I use the word in its proper sense; 
I mean not to confine it to parties, for 
there are good in both — may doubtless 
discover faults, but he will find no single 
act calculated to derogate from the rights 
of the people. 

However, to prove the reverse of this, 
I have been called a federalist! (Here 
was a cry of "The charge is a lie — a 
base lie. You are no federalist.") 
Well, what is a federalist? 1 recollect 
what the term formerly signified, and 
there are many others present who recol- 
lect its former signification also. They 
know that the federal party was ac- 
cused of a design to strengthen the 
hands of the general government at the 
expense of the separate states. That 
accusation would nor cannot apply to 
me. I was brought up after the strict- 
est manner of Virginia anti-federalism. 
St. Paul himself was not a greater de- 
votee to the doctrines of the Pharisees 
than was I, by inclination and a father's 
precepts and example, to anti-federal- 
ism. I was taught to believe that, soon- 
er or later, that fatal catastrophe to hu- 
man liberty would take place — that the 
general government would swallow up 



ail the state governments, aud that one 
department of the government would 
swallow up all the other departments. 
1 do not know whether my friend, Mr. 
A'an Buren (and he is, and 1 hope ever 
will be, my personal friend), has a throat 
that can swallow everything; but I do 
know that, if his measures are carried 
out, he will lay a foundation for others 
to do so if he does not. 

What refiecting man, fellow citizens, 
cannot see this? The representatives 
of the people were once the source of 
power. Is it so now? Nay. It is to 
the executive mansion now that every 
eye is turned — that every wish is di- 
rected. The men of office and party, 
who are governed by the principles of 
John Randolph, to wit: the five loaves 
and two fishes, seem to have their ears 
constantly directed to the great bell at 
headquarters to indicate how the little 
ones shall ring. 

But to return, I have but to remark 
that my anti- federalism has been tem- 
pered by my long service in the employ 
of the country — and my frequent oaths 
to support the general government; but 
I am as ready to resist the encroach- 
ments on state rights as I am to support 
the legitimate authority of the execu- 
tive, or general government. 

Now, fellow citizens, I have very little 
more to say, except to exhort you to go 
on peacefully if you can — and you can 
— to effect that reform upon which your 
hearts are fixed. What calamitous con- 
sequences will ensue to the world if you 
fail I If you should fail how the tyrants 
of Europe will rejoice. If you fail, how 
will the friends of freedom, scattered, 
like the planets of heaven, over the 
world, mourn, when they see the beacon 
light of liberty extinguished — the light 
whose rays they had hoped would yet 
penetrate the whole benighted world. If 
you triumph, it will only be done by 
vigilance and attention. Our personal 
friends, but political enemies, remind 



236 



THE PIONEER 



each other that "Eternal vigilance is the 
price of liberty/' While journeying 
thitherward, I observed this motto wav- 
ing at the head of a procession composed 
of the friends of the present administra- 
tion. From this 1 inferred that dis- 
crimination was necessary in order to 
know who to watch. Under Jeiferson, 
Madison and Monroe, the eye of the peo- 
ple was turned to the right source — to 
the administration. The administration, 
however, now says to the people, "iou 
must not watch us, but you must watch 
the Whigs! Only do that and all is 
safe!" But that, my friends, is not the 
way. The old fashioned Eepubiiean 
rule is to watch the government, bee lo 
the government. See that the govern- 
ment does not acquire too much power. 
E-eep a check upon your rulers. j„^o 
this, and liberty is safe. And if your 
efforts should result successfully, and I 
should be placed in the presidential 
chair, I shall invite a recurrence to the 
old Republican rule, to watch the ad- 
ministration and to condemn all its acts 
which are not in accordance with the 
strictest mode of Republicanism. Our 
rulers, fellow citizens, must be watched. 
Power is insinuating. Eew men are 
satisfied with . less power than they are 
able to procure. If the ladies whom I 
see around me, were near enough to hear 
me, and of sufficient age to give an 
experimental answer, they would tell }ou 
that no lover is ever satisfied with the 
first smile of his mistress. 

It is necessary, therefore, to watch, 
not the political opponents of an ad- 
ministration, but the administration it- 
self, and to see that it keeps within the 
bounds of the constitution and the laws 
of the land. The executive of this 
Union has immense power to do mis- 
chief, if he sees fit to exercise tliat pow- 
er. He may prostrate the country. In- 
deed, this country has been already pros- 
trated. It has already fallen from pure 



Republicanism, to a monarchy in spirit 
if not in name. 

A celebrated author defines mon- 
archy to be that form of government in 
which the executive has at once the com- 
mand of the army, the execution of the 
laws and the control of the purse. Now, 
how is it with our present executive? 
The constitution gives to him the con- 
trol of the army, and the execution of 
the laws. He now only awaits the pos- 
session of the purse to make him a 
monarch. Not a monarch simply, with 
the power of England, but a monarch 
with powers of the autocrat of Russia. 
For Gibbon says that an individual pos- 
sessed of these powers "will unless closely 
watched, make himself a despot." 

The passage of the sub-treasury bill 
will give to the President an accumula- 
tion of power that the constitution with- 
holds from him, thus providing the re- 
quisites of a monarch. This catastro- 
phe to freedom should be and can be 
l^revented by vigilance, union and perse- 
verance. 

("We will do it," resounded from 
twenty thousand voices, "we will do it.") 

In conclusion, then, fellow-citizens, I 
would impress it upon all — Democrats 
and Whigs — to give up the idea of 
\\atching each other, and direct your eye 
to the government. Do that and your 
children's children, to the latest poster- 
ity, will be as happy and as free as you 
and vour fathers have been. 



At the close of Greneral Harrison's 
address the vast multitude of hearet*s 
gave "three times three" with a vim, an 
earnestness and an unanimity that elo- 
quently voiced the truth and beauty of 
the sentiments so forcibly portrayed by 
I he honored speaker. 

This monster demonstration at Fort 
Meigs was well calculated to give even 
additional force and character in the 
further progress of that remarkable 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



20: 



campaign. Not a political meeting of 
any consequence was held throughout 
the country that did not bring out dele- 
gations in wagons and vehicles of every 
description, reaching sometimes a mile 
in length. These wagons were trimmed 
in many fantastic designs, and always 
accompanied with martial music. 

On General Harrison's return from 
Fort Meigs he visited a number of towns 
in Ohio, among them Columbus, Spring- 
field, Dayton, Germantown, Cincinnati 
and other places. 

At Germantown there were some 
unique preparations for his reception. 
Among the features were thirteen lads, 
of whom the writer (F. J. Oblinger,) 
was one, representing the thirteen orig- 



inal states. These lads were dressed in 
blue hunting shirts, with coonskin caps, 
and sang campaign songs from the Log 
Cabin Song Book. Among the airs 
were Dan Tucker, Eosin the Bow, Buck- 
eye Brawn, John Anderson My Joe, 
Auld Lang Syne, etc. 

Another ornamented wagon contain- 
ed a number of girls dressed in white, 
and these represented the stars in the 
rnion at that time. 

Many similar spectacular features, 
processions, patriotic displays and il- 
luminations characterized the campaign 
of 1840 in every town and village of 
note throughout the country, north and 
south — a campaign that has never had 
its counterpart in our political history. 




OTTOKEE 

An Indian Chief Who Opposed War, Was Always Friendly to the Whites, 
and the Last to Leave the Valley 



238 



THE PION^EER 



RANDOM NOTES 



Gleaned From Wood County Records and 
Reminiscences. 



WOOD COUNTY'S present area is 
598 square miles, comjDrisiiig 
382,856 acres. 

Bowling Green is 635 feet above sea 
level, and 70 feet al)ovc Lake Erie. 

In 1823 Samuel Ewing was killed in 
a fight at Rushtcboo, by a man named 
Lewis, who afterwards escaped from the 
jail in Maumee. This is probably the 
first known murder in the county. 

Guy bearing, took the contract in 
1832, to carry the mail from Perrys- 
burg to Lima. Most of the time Noah 
Eeed carried the mail. 

First Presbyterian church in Perrys- 
burg was organized 1833-34. 

In 1821 a mail route was established 
from Piqua, by way of St. Marys, Fort 
Wayne, Defiance and Waterville to 
Perrysburg, 200 miles, with Thomas 
Diver as mail carrier. 

The convention of Territorial Ohio as- 
sembled November 1. 1802, and by the 
20th of that montli completed its work 
of framing a constitution, and in the 
following February, 1803, Congress ad- 
mitted Oliio as a member of the sister- 
hood of states. 

The first regular mail in the Maumee 
Valley was carried by Horace Gunn in 
1808. Benoni Adams carried the mail 
in 1809 from Cleveland to ^Maumee, re- 
quiring two weeks to make the trip, part- 
ly through the Black Swamp on foot. 

Rev. Joseph Badger was a missionary 
among the Indians in the Valley as early 
as 1808. He was at Ft. Meigs a part of 
the time during the war of 1812. 

Hull's trace struck Wood county on 
the south line of Henr\' township, zigzag- 
ged into Bloom, again into Henry, con- 
tinued north through Liberty, into Port- 



age, then north through Center, Plain, 
and Middleton into Perrysburg, leaving 
the county at the foot of the Rapids. 

Harrif^on's trail struck Wood county on 
the east boundary of Freedom, zigzagging 
along Portage River, then through Web- 
ster, through Perrysburg to Ft. Meigs. 

!Mr. Joel Foote says that when his 
father, E. Foote, in 1830, went back to 
York State to marry his second wife, he 
had not enough money to bring her 
back. So he took with him a portion 
of his wheat crop and sold it in the 
Bufi^alo market. The wheat was raised 
on the island opposite Waten-ille, and 
was the first wheat grown and mark- 
eted from the Maumee river country. 
This Mr. Foote gave as a fact, within 
his own recollection. 

Under an act of the legislature, Febru- 
ary 12, 1820, Wood county was outlined 
and what is now Lucas county, was a 
part of its territory. 

The first sessions of the grand juries 
would, in good weather, be held in the 
shade of some generous tree or in some 
nook in the then wilderness close at 
hand, and intruders were kept away from 
the jury and witnesses by the prosecutor 
and court constable, as best they could. 

Wood county's first court house, wa?? 
built of hewn logs. Daniel Hubbell and 
Guy Nearing were the contractors and 
the job was let to them March 3, 1823, 
for $895. This building was paid 
for by the sale of 105 lots granted by 
the government for that purpose and 
were to be sold for $20 or more each. 

The first court which was held within 
the limits of the present AVood county 
was held at the residence of John Hollis- 
ter at Orleans, March 27, 1823. 

The first brick court house was erect- 
ed in 1813 at a cost of $20,000, the con- 
tractors being Brigham & Curtis. After 
the county seat was moved to Bowling 
Green this Iniilding was burned in 1871 
and the present Perrysburg town hail 
built on its site. 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



239 



JOHN WEBB 



A Veteran Pioneer of Perrysburg Brie*^ 
Sketch of His Active Life — Died 
on the Ninetieth Anniver- 
sary of His Birth 



THE sketch of :Mr. Webb's life that 
follows was compiled from mem- 
oranda found among the papers of the 
late Francis Hollenbeck, Esq., and is 
well worthy of record: 

John Webb, the father of the subject 
of this sketch, was born upon the banks 
of the Susquehanna river, in Pennsyl- 
vania, and resided, though a mere boy, 
near Wyoming, at the time of the terri- 
ble Indian massacre at that place. Im- 
mediately after that horrible tragedy, 
John Webb, sr., moved with his father's 
family to Berks county. Pa., where he 
learned the trade of a hatter at Reading, 
the county seat. About February, 179-1, 
he married and moved to jSTew York 
City, and manufactured and retailed 
hats in a shop on Maiden Lane, residing 
in the same building. At that time, 
nearly all the hats in the city were made 
and sold upon that street. 

In that little building, on August 27, 
1795, John Webb, jr., the subject of this 
sketch was born, and after several 
changes during the years that followed, 
moved nine miles west to Miflinburg, 
where he resided until 1814. It was 
here that John Webb, jr., learned the 
trade of hat manufacturing, having 
commenced his apprenticeship in 1811, 
at the age of sixteen years. In 1814 
the family removed to Canton, 0., where 
father and son worked together at their 
trade, until 1820. 

Mr. Webb took a trip east into Union 
county, Pa., and there, on March 8, 
1821, became united in marriage to 
Miss Elizabeth Charles. He immediate- 
ly returned with his wife to Canton, 



Ohio, and then went into partnership 
witli his father. He remained there un- 
til November 1, 1822, when he started, 
with his wife and son Charles, for Per- 
rysburg, arriving at his destination on 
the 6th of the same month, after passing 
through many difficulties while enroute. 

He first went with his family and 
household goods, to Portland (now San- 
dusky City) by wagon, expecting to take 
a vessel there for the Maumee river, but 
no vessel was there. Leaving his goods 
there to l)e shipped forward at the first 
opportunity, he, with Ms wife and child, 
took a horse boat (or "mud scow") for 
Lower Sandusky (now Fremont) where, 
by previous arrangement, he met his 
brother Thomas Lincoln Webb (then a 
young lad) with two horses and a side- 
saddle. Thomas R. McKnight (a 
l)rother-in-law of ^Ir. Webb, who had 
come from the Maumee river to meet 
them) and ]\Irs. Webb rode the horses 
and carried the babe, while Mr. Webb 
and his little brother Lincoln, and a 
man by the name of Hawley (who had 
been waiting for company through the 
swamp) followed on foot. 

Starting from Lower Sandusky, they 
went down the Sandusky river two miles 
and then took the trail for the West, 
arriving on the night of the first day, 
at "the crossing" of the Portage river, 
now Elmore. The trail was well beaten, 
and this was the only place where the 
river had a rocky bottom and could be 
forded. The next day, they came 
through to Perrysburg, striking the 
river at Rock Bar, about one and one- 
half miles below the town. At that 
time, no wagon had ever traversed "the 
swamp." Perrysburg was entirely unin- 
habited, except by beasts and birds of 
the forest, and "The Future Great" had 
not yet been conceived. 

After leaving Lower Sandusky the 
solitary travelers discovered no habita- 
tion until they reached "the crossing" 
(now Elmore), where there was one log 



240 



THE PIOXEER 



cabin, where the wayfarer might be fed 
and sheltered over night, for at that 
time it was impracticable to journey 
overland from Lower Sandusky to the 
Maumee River in one day. The next 
habitation they met with was that of 
Victory Jenison, on the south bank of 
the Maumee River, in the bend below 
the present site of Perrysburg. He had 
made a little clearing about his cabin, 
but cultivated a small tract of bottom 
land which had never been grown over 
with timber or brush. John Noel and 
Thomas Leaming were living in small 
cabins in the bushes on the hillside, on 
what afterward became the farm of 
Judge David Ladd, and cultivated a por- 
tion of the bottom lands at the foot of 
the hill. 

Arrived at Perrysburg 

The to\ni of Perrysburg had been sur- 
veyed and platted by the United States 
Government in 1817, five years prior to 
Mr. Webb's arrival, but at that time no 
one was yet living upon it, and no por- 
tion of it was at that time cleared, ex- 
cepting in-lot No. 144, now occupied by 
the residence of the late Francis Hollen- 
beck, Esq., and the logs from the felled 
timber were piled upon it, intended to 
be used by Thomas R. McKnight for 
the erection of a dwelling. ]\Ir. Webb 
took up his quarters in a small frame 
building standing at the bottom of the 
hill at the head of the bayou and near 
the extension of West Boundary street 
(known as Green Lane) over the flats. 
He with his family, thus became the 
first inhabitants of the Perrysburg town 
plat. At this time, Messrs. Thos. R. 
McKnight, Aurora and Samuel Spafford, 
Jacob and James Wilkison, Mrs. Omans 
and one other person, resided at Orleans 
of the North, a village located on the 
flats, under Fort Meigs hill. Imme- 
diately after his arrival, Mr. Webb aided 
in erecting Mr. McKnight's log residence 
on in-lot 144, carrying up one of the 



corners, and "chinking" and "daubing" 
the structure, and Mr. McKnight moved 
into it the following spring (1823). 

The county seat was then at Perrys- 
burg, and Thos. R. McKnight was Clerk 
oP the Court, but the first terms of court 
were held at Maumee, for the reason 
that there was no building in Perrys- 
burg in wliich to hold them. Subse- 
(inently, three or four terms were held 
in the second story of a warehouse at 
Orleans, owned by John Hollister. Hol- 
lister, at that time, lived in Maumee, 
but owned the warehouse, occupying the 
ground floor as a store room; afterward 
he removed these goods to the building 
in which he was doing a retail business 
at Orleans. 

Soon after his arrival Mr. Webb fitted 
up a shop for the manufacture of hats 
in the bas?ment of his dwelling, but did 
not commence working at his trade until 
1824, being unable to sooner obtain the 
necessary tools. He manufactured the 
first hats ever made in the Maumee 
Valley, and the only other establishment 
of the kind in the West was one at De- 
troit. The next fall he purchased three 
rods front on the north side of Front 
street, at the head of Walnut street, ex- 
tending to the river, where he at once 
put up a log shop. He commenced busi- 
ness in this building in 1824, and worked 
industriously there for about three and 
one-half years, paying, with the pro- 
ceeds of his labor, for the tract on which 
his shop stood, and also for the lot on 
which he afterward erected the dwelling 
in wliicli 111' (lied. Both of these real 
estate purchases were made from Seth 
Doane. 

In the autumn of 1822, Samuel Spaf- 
ford commenced preparations for the 
erection of the Exchange Hotel, which 
he completed and moved into during th" 
next fall, coming down from Orleans, 
v/hich village was being abandoned for 
higher ground, owing to the river floods. 
About the same time Judge Thomas W. 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



241 



Powell, late of Delaware, 0., erected the 
dwelling on Front street, afterward pur- 
chased and occupied b}^ Mr. Jonathan 
Perrin. From this time buildings con- 
tinued to be erected here and there over 
the town plat, and Orleans was gradual- 
ly deserted, the inhabitants locating at 
Perrysburg. 

Held Many Offices 

Mr. Webb was elected Sheriff of 
Wood county in 1826, and again in 
1828. In May, 1831, he was appointed 
Clerk of the County, and continued in 
office about eleven years, when he was 
succeeded by Joseph Utley, who appoint- 
ed him his Deputy. He was again elect- 
ed Sheriff in 1842 and re-elected in 
1844. 

George W. Porter was executed No- 
vember 5, 1830. Mr. Webb being at 
that time Sheriff, and performing the 
duties of the office (the particulars of 
this crime are given elsewhere in this 
volume) . 

When Mr. Webb first realized that he 
would be obliged to execute a fellow- 
being, his whole soul recoiled from it. 
Mr. Porter was under his care for about 
six months, and during that time talked 
freely of the act he had committed, al- 
ways declaring that he was ready and 
willing to die, not desiring to live with 
such a load upon his mind. He was 
always calm and greatly regretted the 
commission of the deed. While in prison 
no fetters of any kind were placed upon 
him, nor was he confined to a cell, hav- 
ing the free range of two large rooms. 
Eichardson was regarded by the whole 
community as a bad man, while Porter 
was esteemed as a kind-hearted, well- 
disposed citizen, who, under great pro- 
vocation and excitement, had committed 
the fatal act. The sympathizing citi- 
zens of the community desired to secure 
a pardon, but he would not allow them 
to do so. He was executed on the flats 
at the foot of Fort Meigs, so that the 



spectators might occupy the hillside and 
all witness the execution. Among the 
large crowd present, were many from 
Michigan, Pennsylvania and Xew York, 
who came expressly for the occasion. 
This execution is celebrated in history 
as the first in the annals of the Maumee 
Valley. 

In 1848, Mr. Webb, was again elected 
County Clerk, and held the office until 
1860, when he retired to private life. 
Since the latter date, a large portion of 
his time was occupied in setting up the 
numerous accounts which had accumulat- 
ed during his long terms of office, and 
looking after his farm, which he had 
leased. He employed the most of his 
time in reading, and his mind was a 
storehouse of information, both regard- 
ing the early history of the country and 
current events. He always took a great 
interest in politics, and, since the or- 
ganization of the party, has been an 
earnest Republican. He has been mar- 
ried three times : March 8, 1821, to 
Elizabeth Charles; July 18, 1834, to 
Mary Dean; February 23, 1851, to Mary 
A. Jones, the latter two of Perrysburg. 

There is probably no citizen of the 
valley who had more warm friends, in 
whose hearts his memory will be kept 
green. 

For many years, nearly ever\^ one in 
the community has fondly called him 
"Uncle John," and it is doubtful if he 
had an enemy in the world. His name 
will be inscribed among the most worthy 
of the old Maumee Valley pioneers as 
one who, by his industry, gained a com- 
petence for himself and family and never 
committed a dishonest or dishonorable 
act. 



The territory northwest of the Ohio 
river, by virtue of the Ordinance of 
1787, was the first, within the present 
limits of the United States, dedicated to 
universal liberty. 



243 



THE PIONEER 



CHOLERA VICTIMS 



As Its Ravages in Perrysburg Were Described 

by the Journal in the Year 1854 — 

List of Deaths 



THE Perrysburg Journal suspended 
publication for four weeks in July, 
1854, and in its first issue after the sus- 
pension, dated August 12, 1854, it gave 
the following particulars: 

"It is four weeks to-day since the last 
number of the Perrysburg Journal was 
issued. Up to that time we tried to 
believe that the worst phase of the 
cholera had been reached, but each suc- 
ceeding week brought a greater number 
of victims, and all business having ceased, 
this paper and the M. V. Democrat sus- 
pended publication, both from choice and 
necessity. Hands could not be employed 
to work when everybody else who could 
leave was deserting the town, nor did 
il seem desirable to work much when 
death was decimating our numbers. We 
have been through two or three cholera 
seasons before but never have we seen 
such fearful and fatal results. 

"We are happy to announce that the 
dreadful disease has now almost, if not 
entirely, sul)sided here. There have 
been perhaps two or three modified cases 
within the past week, but the dreaded 
fatality which characterized it hitherto 
has passed away, to return here, we 
hope, no more. 

"The following is as nearly a com- 
plete list of the deaths by cholera in 
this place and immediate vicinity as we 
can at this time procure. It is probably 
not far from correct: 

"Geo. Jones' child, Stephen Williams, 
Judson Tocker, Frederick Lucas, wife 
and five children, Peter Laney, Henry 
Bason, Mrs. Perkins, Jacob Snyder, Geo. 
Schuler, William Bellville's child. Mrs. 
James Perrin and child, Miss Lucy 



Bellinger, Miss Cronewald, Mrs. Rebecca 
j\IcKnight, Lewis Mundy, Celia 
Simonds, Mrs. Hernia Irwin, Miss Julia 
Irwin, Miss W, Gates, J. W. Lang, W. 
]\Iead, Geo. Bums, Esther Burns, F. 
Zanger, Mrs. Abner Brown, Wm. H. 
Courser, Eosanna Ferdig, Mrs. Huff- 
man, John J. Cook, Elijah Huntington, 
Mr. Wolfley, Henry Pfleghart, Findley 
J. Ross, Stanley T. Ross, Dr. James 
Robertson, Cornelia Spink, John J. 
Spink, Mr. Huffman's boy, Mrs. J. A. 
Hall, Geo. Clemens, Christian Eichholz, 
Lawrence Hircel, Mrs. Brown, Robert 
Chambers, Mr. Hamilton, Jarvis Spaf- 
ford, Mrs. Shannon, Frederick Dortion, 
Margaret Hircel, Mary Grain, Edward 
Lee, Jacob Rufly, Theresa Oscam, 
George W. Bloomfield, Jacob Kingfield, 
A. Coster, Naomi D. Kelley, Samuel 
Webb, Adaline Frederick, August Rhodae, 
Thomas Atkinson, Mr. Zimmerman, H. 
D. Right, John Reiser, Mrs. Asher 
Cook, Richard Atkinson, Mr. Arne, Mr. 
Shaw's boy, Zimmerman's boy, Mrs. 
Goodwin, Mr. Shannon's child, Johanna 
Reisly, Sophia Blinn, Mrs. Rhodae, Mrs. 
Catherine Reiser. Christina Rhodae, child 
of Wolfley, Mr. Kelp, Mrs. Jane Crook, 
boy Keider, Miss Eichholz, child of Os- 
burg, child of John Reiser, Mrs. Persis 
Peck, Margaret Schuckmeal, Geo. 
Schitz, James Shannon, Mrs. Shaw, Mrs. 
Wolfley, AYory Hoelzly, John JSTeider- 
house, Margaret Wild, Philip Riley, 
Nicholas Reiser, Theresa Reiser, and 
child— 104. 

"We are indebted to the politeness of 
Mr. John Yeager, the sexton, for the 
foregoing list." 



Tecumseh's wild dream was inspired 
by his brother, the Prophet, who with his 
wonderful visions foretold the capture of 
Harrison at Ft. Meigs, the destruction of 
the western forts, and the grand confed- 
eracy of all the Indian tribes and their 
final supremacy in the west. 




FORT MIAMI 

Facing the Maumee River 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



245 



AMOS DEWESE 



One of the Pioneer Settlers of Weston Town- 
Ship — His Early Life and Privations 
in the Black Swamp 



AMOS DEWESE was one of the 
pioneer settlers of Weston (own- 
ship, and one of the sturdy, reliable 
men, whose character was one of moral 
worth and integrity. He was well known 
throughout Wood county, and was a 
man thoroughly alive to its prosperity. 
Amos Dewese was of Eevolutionary 
stock. 

His great grandfather. Samuel De- 
wese, was a soldier in the war of the 
Eevolution. He was wounded and cap- 
tured at the siege of Ft. Washington and 
tlirown into one of the filthy British 
prison ships. Afterwards he re-entered 
the Colonial army and died of disease in 
a militar}^ camp, Allentown, Pa. 

After his death his son, Samuel, 
while a mere boy, tramped through the 
snow to Valley Forge where he enlisted 
and subsequently became a captain of 
militia in the First Battalion, 36th regi- 
ment of Maryland Troops. At the close 
of the Revolutionary war he was made 
captain of a volunteer military' company. 

Capt. Dewese's brother, Thomas, who 
was the grandfather of the late Amos 
Dewese, was a school teacher in early 
life, and later became a farmer. 

Samuel Dewese, the father of Amos 
Dewese, at the age of 30 years enlisted 
under Capt. James Drennan for the war 
of 1812. and served under Gen. Harri- 
son. He was discharged at Detroit, 
May 14, 1814. When enlisted he first 
went to Cleveland and later to Ft. 
Stephenson, at the present site of Fre- 
mont, arriving there just a day after 
]\lajor Croghan^s gallant defense of the 
little stockade. While at Detroit he was 
sent bv Gen. Harrison as a scout to the 



Thames river in Canada. The mission 
was a dangerous and difficult one but 
he accomplished his object. 

His Early Trials 

Amos Dewese came to Wood county 
from Hancock county, February 17, 
1843, and of his early experience here he 
gave a graphic account in an article 
contributed to the Weston Herald, on 
the occasion of the 40th anniversary of 
his advent into the "Black Swamp." 
He wrote: 

The snow was 18 inches deep when 
1 started from Hancock county without 
a cent of money, but a few clothes, and 
ii dry chunk of bread constituting my 
pack; my shoes out at the toes and car- 
rying a few books. 

In the evening I crossed the line and 
saw a liunter riding an old horse, to the 
tail of which was tied a large deer. I 
followed a trail and came to a Mr. Rob- 
bins, of Bloom township, where I staid 
all night. Early next morning T started 
for ^Ir. Frankfather's at Bloom Center, 
found my old friend, Joseph Shelia, and 
made my home with him, and went to 
chopping to get a pair of boots. Mr. 
Shelia, and I rode through the woods 
to Risden and Rome (now Fostoria) 
for an ax. W^e found a few, but as 
they wouldn't trust either of us, we had 
to return without it. Then I went back 
to Hancock county, got my ax and was 
rich. I took a job of a Mr. Buisey to 
chop seven acres, for which he gave me 
a rifle and some second-hand clothing. 
I finished my job March 24, when the 
mercury was 20 degrees below zero, that 
winter being still known as the "hard 
winter." 

Jonathan Stull 

I began work for 'Mr. Solether April 
1 ; snow and ice on the ground, and 
sleighing. He gave me a watch. While 
working there Mr. Jonathan Stull came 
into the clearing. He had a bag on 
his shoulder with a peck of com that 



246 



THE PIOXEER 



he had got from a Mr. Daniel Milburn, 
Mr. Stiill was much depressed and dis- 
couraged on account of the hard winter. 
He talked on Adventism, as the Miller- 
ites said the end of the world was at 
hand. Mr. Stull said he pra3'ed for it 
every day, as he had seen all the trouble 
he wanted to see. He said he had eight 
head of horses^, and all had died; 28 head 
of cattle and 260 head of hogs, and all 
were dead. I had to pass Mr. Stull's 
calnn often. He told me they had been 
married 12 years and that they had 10 
children, all of whom were almost nude. 
Not one had a full suit of clothes. They 
hadn't a bed or a window in the house. 

He was the owner of a three-quarter 
section of good land. ''There," said Mr. 
Stull, "I have one peck of ears of corn 
in this* sack, and when I take it home 
and grind it in the hand mill and mix 
ii with water, bake it and eat it with 
my wife and ten children, God knows 
where the next will come from. They 
must starve." He Avept like a child. 
(Mr. vStull was the founder of Jerry 
City). 

A Severe Winter 

Mr. Dewese said that during that win- 
ter nearly all the wild hogs perished 
from cold. Later Mr. Dewese worked 
for Mr. Whitacre two weeks, for which 
he received $3.25. Continuing he says: 

I then went to Milton Center and 
cleared five acres for James Hutchinson 
for a pair of two-year-old steers. In 
July I went to James Bloom, and work- 
ed for Bloom and Henderson Carothers, 
helping to cut 45 acres of wheat and 
cut and haul 100 tons of tame prairie 
hay, for which I received one pair of 
boots and 50 cents in money — a sum 
total in money for the year of $3.75. 
In the beginning of the year 1843 I 
went to Ralph Keeler's to work for my 
board, and to go to school in the old 
log school house at Weston. Mr. Keeler 
took sick, and as I had to take care of 



him and the stock I lost the benefit of 
the school. I worked for him three 
months for $25, to take my pay out of 
the store. 

The teacher, Mr. Jesse Osborne, of 
Xew York State, received 25 cents a 
day or five dollars a month. The 
scholars were Miss Mary Taylor, George 
Lewis, Thomas and William Taylor, 
Samuel McAfee, Olmstead, Amelia and 
Melicent Keeler. The teacher was paid 
by tlie parents, there being no school 
fund at that time. 

Mr. Taylor lost about 45 head of cat- 
tle, Mr. Keeler 75 head, while the Sals- 
l)urys. Sargents, Ellsworths and Greens 
lost about the same proportion during 
that terrible winter, never to be forgot- 
ten by the old settlers. Many had to 
move out of the "Black Swamp" before 
spring. So ended my first year as a 
pioneer. 

In March 1851 Mr. Dewese entered 
the land which now forms a portion of 
the Dewese estate. On this he built a 
log house and began to make for him- 
self a home. 

On November 3, 1853, Mr. Dewese 
Avas married to Miss Sarah Green, who 
was born August 17, 1829, in Liver- 
pool, England, and came to this country 
with her parents in 1834. 

j\Ir. Dewese was a whole-souled, public 
spirited man, whose ambition was hon- 
orable citizenship and financial inde- 
pendence. He was an upright citizen, a 
kind neighbor, a devoted husband and a 
loving parent. 

The hospitality of the Dewese hojne 
was known far and wide, and Mr. Dewese 
found great pleasure in entertaining his 
many friends at his fireside and sumptu- 
ous table. 



Till' corner stone of the first court 
house in Bowling Green was laid July 
4, 186S. The cost of the building was 
about $23,000 and Norton Rood was th- 
contractor. 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



247 



JOSEPH B. NEWTON 



One of the Prominent Figures in Wood 

County History That Will Long 

Be Remembered 



ON" the morning of April 10, 1905, 
there passed away from earthly 
scenes one who had long been a promi- 
nent factor in Wood county history — 
Captain Joseph B. jSTewton. 

Captain Xewton was born in Chenango 
county, X. Y., in 1837, and with his 
parents came to Ohio in 1840, locating in 
Center township, and later on moving to 
Bowling Green. While a young man, he 
taught school and was corporation clerk 
of Bowling Green. At the outbreak of 
the War of the Rebellion Mr. Newton 
volunt^^ered in Co. A, 14th 0. V. I., and 
M'on promotion by faithful and efficient 
service to Corporal, Sergeant Major, 
Second Lieutenant, Adjutant and Cap- 
tain. He never was absent from his 
command but once on account of sick- 
ness. He was with the army in Sher- 
man's march to the sea, and in the final 
review at Washington at the close of 
the war — literally starting at the begin- 
ning of the war and holding out through 
all the dangers and vicissitudes in camp 
and field, in skirmish and battle, to the 
end. 

After the war he returned to Bowling 
Green. He was elected auditor of Wood 
county for two terms. Owing to a 
change in the terms of county officers, 
Mr. Newton served nearly five years as 
county auditor. Some time afterward 
while engaged in farming he became in- 
terested in the glass industries of Bowl- 
ing Green and Indiana, holding promi- 
nent positions in the management of that 
industry. He served as Secretary of the 
Wood County Fair Company, and at the 
time of his death was a member and 
president pro tem of the City Council of 



Bowling Green. He was also a member 
of Wiley Post G. A. R., of I. 0. 0. F. 
Encampment and of the Loyal Legion. 

Captain Newton and Miss Maggie 
Black were married in 1868, and his 
wife and three sons and one daughter 
survive him. The funeral services took 
place at the family residence and were 
conducted by Rev. Thos. Barkdull, of 
Toledo, who had been a friend of the 
Captain from his early boyhood. He 
spoke feelingly of liis associations -and 
recollections of the dead. These ser- 
vices were attended l)y the city otficials, 
members of council. Grand Army mem- 
bers, county officials and a larg;' numl)er 
of personal friends. The pall bearers 
were C. W. Evcrs, J. D. Bolles. A. E. 
Royce, f. L. Hankey, J. E. ]\Ierry and 
'Si. L. Case. Undor tlie Grand Army 
ritual the remains of Captain Xewton 
were placed in beautiful Oak Grove ceme- 
tery. 

One who for a number of years was 
closely and intimately associated with 
b.im, claims that a more even tempered, 
serene, jiatient character is seldom to be 
found. Under th',> most trving ordeals 
in official life, calm, patient, self-pos- 
sessed, lie was ever unruffled — ordeals 
that would exasperate and confuse any 
one less masterful. 

In his business relations he was tbor- 
oughly methodical and systematic. He 
ins]iired confidence among all who came 
witliin his influence, and was affable and 
courteous to all. Whoever sought his 
counsel in perplexity, whether rich or 
poor, high or low in station, his advice 
was freely given, and often too at the ex- 
pense of l)oth time and money on his 
part. 

He gave a patient, respectful hearing 
to all, and it was this trait in the man 
tbat to a large extent brought about the 
high esteem in which he was regarded 
l)y his fellow men. In the discharge of 
his duties as auditor there were many try- 
ing circumstances. At many meetings 



248 



THE PIO]^EER 



of the commissioners, when diverse inter- 
ests were in clash before the board New- 
ton was ever calm and unruffled and 
throughout all he was unswerved, self- 
poised, fearless, confident in his well 
studied and matured judgment. 



He was ever ready to help his fellow- 
man, and it is of such material that good 
citizenship is made, whether in the do- 
mestic and social circle or in the wider 
arena of civic duty. — Cor. of Wood Co. 
Democrat. 



NATHANIEL H. CALLARD 



One of the Veteran Journalists of Wood 
County— One Who Lived Much of 
His Life for Others 



IN the death of Nathaniel H. Callard, 
there passed away a man who was 
identified with the growth of Wood 
county and the prosperity of the Maumee 
Valley for nearly half a century. 

Mr. Callard was bom in Devonshire, 
England, February 3, 1819, where he 
grew to manhood's estate, leaving Eng- 
land and coming to America in 1848. 
He resided several years in Detroit and 
Toledo, finally making his home in Per- 
rysburg in 1853, where he resided until 
his death, January 5, 1900. 

In 1854, when the cholera raged with 
such violence that it seemed to baffle all 
medical skill, when scarcely a family 
escaped from the dread pestilence, when 
the fortitude of the bravest was tested in 
this crucible of disease and death, Mr. 
Callard, with unflinching devotion, gave 
his energy and skill unreservedly to his 
fellow citizens stricken with the plague. 
For the time he abandoned his business, 
and day and night found him minister- 
ing comfort to the sick and dying and 
providing necessities wherever needed. 
In that time of gloom his services were 
in constant demand and no appeal was 
ever made to him in vain. 

The panic of 1857 swept away his busi- 
ness prospects as it did that of thousands 
of others in that financial distress. In 



addition to this the loss of his wife by 
death in the same year greatly increased 
the burden of his afflictions, leaving him 
with three motherless children. In 1861 
he chose a second wife, Miss Ellen Mc- 
Naughton, who proved a devoted mother 
to his children. 

During the early years of the war he 
was an editorial writer on the Perrysburg 
Journal and directed the policy of that 
paper. He was an enthusiastic supporter 
of Hon. James M. Ashley and advocated 
the vigorous prosecution of the war for 
the preservation of the Union, and was a 
strong adherent to the principles of the 
Eepublican party as advocated by the 
leaders of that period. 

In 1875 he established the Buckeye 
Granger in Perrysburg, a weekly paper, 
advocating the principles of the Patrons 
of Industry, and for six years that paper 
was conducted with signal ability, wield- 
ing an influence for good throughout 
Northwestern Ohio. Subsequently he 
was a frequent contributor to many 
newspapers in Toledo and Wood county. 
He was a close political student and as a 
writer he was concise, forceful and 
logical. 

In his political views of men and 
measures, he was thoroughly independ- 
ent. If he favored any measure of pub- 
lic policy, lie did so irrespective of any 
political party. The only question with 
him, in regard to any political issue, was 
"Is it right; or wrong; is it just or un- 
just ?*' His sympathies were ever with 
the people. Whatever would benefit his 
fellow citizens received his active sup- 
port. Ho was free in the expression of 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



249 



his opinion. There was no subterfuge in 
his make-up. In all his relations with 
his fellow man he was courteous and 
affable. He was ever generous to a 
fault. His cheery smile and hearty 
greeting were genuine, coming from a 
heart overflowing with sympathy for all. 
The funeral services were largely at- 
tended by Perrysburg citizens and many 
from a distance. The services were in 
charge of Rev. D. Stecker, pastor of the 
M. E. church, assisted by Rev. G. A. 



Adams, who had been the friend and as- 
sociate of the deceased for nearly half a 
century. The remains were laid away in 
Ft. ]Meigs cemetery. 

Thus ended the earthly career of one 
who in spite of most discouraging busi- 
ness reverses always remained cheerful 
and hopeful, whose long life proved a 
benison to his fellow men — a man of 
sterling integrity — a broad-minded, open- 
hearted, generous, consistent Christian 
gentleman. — F. J. 0. 



SETH HUNT FAIRCHILD 



A Cultured Gentleman of the Old School of 
the Legal Fraternity 



ONE of the oldest members of the 
Wood county Bar Association at 
the time of his death, was Seth H. Fair- 
child, beloved and respected by all who 
knew him. He had been in feeble health 
for a number of years, before he passed 
into the Unseen. The funeral took 
place from the residence of his daughter, 
Mrs. Stanley Thurstin, and was largely 
attended by the citizens of Bowling 
Green. The remains were interred in 
Oak Grove cemetery beside those of his 
wife who had preceded him a decade be- 
fore. 

Mr. Fairchild was one of the old pio- 
neer lawyers of Xorthwestern Ohio. He 
possessed a number of quaint ways, and 
was of a methodical manner in the eon- 
duct of his affairs. He could properly 
be termed a gentleman of the old school, 
courteous and friendly in manner. He 
was the dean of the Wood county bar, 
being the oldest member in point of age. 

Mr. Fairchild resided in McComb prev- 
ious to his moving to Bowling Green. 
He owned a large grist mill there, and 
served that place as mayor and justice 
of the peace for many years. 

In 1869 he went to Bowling Green and 



applied himself strictly to the practice 
of law, attaining a good practice. He 
also served Center township as justice of 
the peace for several terms. On account 
of poor health, he was obliged to give 
up his profession, after which he lived 
a quiet life alone in his home on Pros- 
pect street. 

During the county seat fight he be- 
came quite a conspicuous figure among 
the most active workers in behalf of 
Bowling Green. 

The Wood county bar in the expres- 
sion of its esteem records the following: 

"In the removal of brother Fairchild 
our association recognizes the loss of a 
member largely entitled to our respect 
and esteem, and a prominent link in 
ihQ chain uniting the old with the more 
modern practice of our profession in 
this state. 

••'Brother Fairchild. in his courteous 
demeanor towards the members of the 
bar, as well as in his high appreciation 
of the principles of equity, was a model 
which the younger members of the pro- 
fession would do well to imitate; and 
we can all see much to admire in the 
simplicity and strict integrity of his 
character."— C. W. E. 



The famous chief, Little Turtle, in 
1812, died at Fort Wayne, where he had 
come to be treated by the army surgeons. 



250 



THE PIONEER 



ALFRED M. RUSSELL 



A Prominent and Influential Citizen Who 
Had Filled Important Official Posi- 
tions in the County 



AFTER many months of paralytic 
suffering, Alfred M. Russell passed 
away at his residence in Bowling 
Green, on Tuesday morning, June 13, 
1899, leaving a wife and two children — 
Charles H. Russell and Mrs. Franlc 
Reed — together with a host of friends 
in Wood county. 

Mr. Russell was born March 7, 1835, 
and was the youngest of a family of ten 
children. He was educated at Antioch 
and Oberlin, after which he spent a num- 
ber of years as a school teacher. At the 
breaking out of the Civil war he enlisted 
as a member of Co. G, 14th 0. V. I., and 
was made first lievitenant. He was dis- 
charged at the end of three months on 
account of injuries received, and re-en- 
listed as a private in Co. C, 68th 
0. V. I., in 1863, and was made sergeant- 



major. He was discharged from the 
service in 1866, and soon after located 
in Bowling Green, where he continued 
to reside, with the exception of a few 
years spent at Perrysburg. 

He has filled various positions of trust 
and responsibility having been twice 
elected county treasurer and having 
served several terms as deputy county 
treasurer and deputy county auditor. 

The deceased enjoyed a wide acquaint- 
ance throughout the county and was 
honored and esteemed by all who knew 
him as an upright citizen and public 
official. He was a member of Phoenix 
Lodge F. & A. M., of Perrysburg, and 
of Crystal Chapter R. A. M., of Bowling 
Green, and was also a member of the 
Grand Army of the Republic. 

The funeral was held Thursday after- 
noon at 2 o'clock, at the Presbyterian 
church. The services were under the 
direction of the Masonic fraternit}', ol 
which Mr. Russell was a prominent 
member. Rev. Adams, of Perrysburg, 
assisted by Rev. Dillon, had charge of 
the church services. The remains were 
interred in Oak Grove cemetery. 



HON. E. W. POE 



In the Prime of Life, One of V/ood County's 
Worthy Sons, Passed to His Reward 



AT the age of 52 years, stricken with 
apoplexy, Hon Ebenezer W. Poe, 
one of Wood county's worthy sons, passed 
away at his home 691 Bryden road, Co- 
lumbus. The summons of the dread 
Messenger came Sunday morning, June 
19, 1898, at 11 o'clock. 

He was stricken early Saturday even- 
ing, while down town with some friends, 
and never regained consciousness. He 
was conveyed to his home in an ambu- 
lance, where he was given the most skil- 



ful medical attendance, but all to no 
avail and he passed away peacefully as 
stated above, without being able to 
recognize any of his family, all of whom 
surrounded his bedside. 

Mr. Poe was a self-made man in all 
that the term implies. He was born and 
reared on a farm near Van Buren, in 
Hancock county, and in his boyhood 
days was fitted for the sturdy responsi- 
bilities of life by hard work on the farm. 
He made the best of every opportunity 
that presented itself for advancement, 
and his efforts were crowned with suc- 
cess. 

He was twice elected auditor of AVood 
county and made a most competent and 
obliging official. Later he served two 



SCKAl'-BOOK. 



251 



terms as auditor of state, in which posi- 
tion he acquitted himself commendably. 
At the time of his death he was a mem- 
ber of the board of trustees of the Boys' 
Industrial Home at Lancaster. 

Mr. Poe was a member of the ]\Iasonic 
fraternity and of several other secret so- 
cieties, and he nimibered his friends by 
the score in all parts of the state. He 
was of a genial disposition, simple and 
unostentatious in his manners and a true 
and trusted friend. His taking off in 



the prime of life was universally lament- 
ed by his legion of friends in Wood 
county and throughout the state. 

The funeral was held from the resi- 
dence the following Tuesday afternoon. 
Kev. ]\Iacafee, of the Broad street M. E. 
cliurch, of which Mr. Poe was a member, 
conducted the services at the house. 
The Masonic fraternity had charge of 
the services at the grave. The interment 
was made at Green Lawn, the beautiful 
( olumbus cemetery. 



HON. GEORGE LASKEY 



At One Time State Senator and for Many 

Years Identified with Wood County 

Interests 



HOX. GEORGE LASKEY, one of 
the prominent pioneer citizens of 
the Maumee Valley, after many months 
of paralytic suffering, passed away at his 
home in Toledo, August 11, 1899, and 
in this final ending there passed from 
earth the soul of a grand man, a devoted 
father and a whole-souled public-spirited 
citizen. He was honest, energetic, up- 
right in every phase of life — a man of 
sterling integrity who enjoyed the un- 
shaken confidence of all who knew him. 

The Toledo Bee in announcing his 
death gave the following brief sketch of 
his busy life: 

Hon. George Laskey was born in 
Devonshire, England, near the town of 
Bristol, August 23, 182-1. His parents, 
George and Ann (Southard) Laskey, 
came to this country in 1833, landing 
in New York. Coming to Ohio, they 
settled in Lucas county, then a wild, 
uncultivated state, and proceeded to 
make a home among the early pioneers 
of Ohio. 

In 1837, at the age of 13 years, the 
subject of this sketch started in the 



world for himself. Going to Grand 
Kapids, Ohio, he accepted a position as 
clerk in the store of Francis Hinsdale. 
Industrious, energetic, reliable and 
thoroughly honorable in his relations to 
his employer, he showed while still a boy 
the sterling qualities that wore so marked 
in his later life, and at the cud of nine 
years' time was admitted io a partner- 
ship in the firm, which made a marked 
success. In 1851, five years after young 
Laskey had become identified witli the 
firm, Mr. Hinsdale died and Mr. Laskey 
continued to carry on the extensive busi- 
ness, looking after Mrs. Hinsdale's in- 
terests in connection with his own. Later 
he and his brother bought out Mrs. Hins- 
dale and the firm name was changed to 
Laskey Bros. Being energetic, wide- 
awake young men, possessed of more than 
ordinary business ability, they became 
tlie most popular merchants of Grand 
Rapids and won many friends. In 1866 
they sold out and retired from the mer- 
cantile business, becoming interested in 
real estate. 

After retiring from his mercantile 
career, Mr. Laskey became interested in 
agricultiiral pursuits, having previously 
purchased large tracts of land in Wood, 
Henry, Putnam and Lucas counties. At 
the time of his death, he owned several 
tlinusand acres in these counties, most' 
of wliich is laid out in fine farms and 



THE PIONEER 



under a high state of cultivation. This 
venture proved markedly successful and 
he continued in the occupation until 
September, 1877, when he removed to 
Toledo. 

In 1859 Mr. Laske}' was elected to the 
Ohio state senate, to represent the six 
counties of Ijucas, Wood, Hancock, 
Henry, Fulton and Putnam, serving a 
term of two years. While in the senate 
he was one of the committee on railroads, 
and chairman of the committee on ditches 
and roads, doing more than any other 
man in Ohio toward inaugurating the 
drainage system that has reclaimed so 



many acres of wet land. He had always 
taken an active part in the drainage 
system and in all public affairs, being 
an important factor in the growth and 
improvement of the community in which 
he made his home. He served as com- 
missioner of Wood county for six years. 
Mr. Laskey and Antoinette Howard 
were united in marriage January 1, 
1848. The union was a happy one and 
was blessed by six children, four sons 
and two daughters. For many years 
they attended the Congregational church 
of Toledo, and were among its most ac- 
tive members. 



THE HOOD FAMILY 



Reminiscences of These Worthy Scotchmen 

So Well Known to Our Older 

Wood County Citizens 



SOME years ago Mr. N. H. Callard 
furnished the Wood County Demo- 
crat with the following reminiscences of 
the Hood brothers: 

The Hood family comprised five sons 
and one daughter. They were natives of 
Midlothian county, Scotland, and after 
landing in the city of Montreal, came to 
Ohio in 1851, settling in the village of 
Perrysburg. They had all been well 
educated, and in all their personal and 
puljlic services have shown the highest 
characteristics of integrity and public 
spirit. 

The writer located in Perrysburg in 
1853 and is familiar with their life 
record, and its services from that time to 
the period when five members of this 
^^•ortlly family has passed away, and two 
others who had been allied with them by 
marriage. 

In 1853 when I came to Perrysburg 
James and William Hood were owners of 
the l)rick building on Front street, Per- 



rysburg, which subsequently was pur- 
chased by the corporation of Perrysburg, 
and has been used since then as a council 
room and engine house. The partners 
had a large miscellaneous stock of goods 
and Avere then doing a profitable busi- 
ness. 

In 1854 the scourge of cholera pre- 
vailed in the village but the Hoods brave- 
ly stood their ground in the midst of it. 

Thomas Atkins, an Englishman, and 
his son, at that time kept a saloon and 
grocery. The older man was taken down 
by an attack of cholera in its worst form. 
He died in a short time and his son im- 
mediately followed. 

The Hoods performed the kind duties 
0^ humanity for them and as an adminis- 
trator of the Atkins estate, managed it 
through the action of Asher Cook, who 
then was probate judge, so that the 
Atkins children in England participated 
in their father's estate, instead of its be- 
ing held by those who had asserted a 
claim to it in this country. 

Another instance in which the Hoods 
were useful in the cholera time was that 
of a poor inebriate Scotchman named 
John Anderson. He was a working 
blacksmith for Mr. Lawrence and made 
his home on the river bank in a dilapi- 



SCEAP-BOOK. 



253 



dated house on Front street, opposite 
what then belonged to Mr. Lindsay. 

Information was brought me as a 
member of the committee of the M. E. 
church M'hich together with a similar 
committee of the Presbyterian church, 
was charged with the duty of visiting 
the sick and the dying, and to aid them 
all to the best of our ability. 

I at once went to the house where he 
was lying alone without food, and in an 
exceedingly dirty condition, as he had 
merged into the second stage of that ter- 
rible disease. I obtained a change of 
under-clothing for him from Mr. William 
Hood, also some medicine from Dr. 
Smith and with incessant labor the poor 
inebriate was restored to health. 

In this and other cases the Hoods per- 
formed good service for tha public. 
Shortly after this event William Hood 
removed to Bowling Green and as the 
second merchant in that place became a 
leading factor in its mercantile affairs, 
and subsequently when the change of 
county seat from Perrysburg to Bowling 
Green was rife, he became one of the 
most active, resolute and liberal factors 
in the accomplishment of the removal. 

He was a leading factor in the con- 
struction of the Tontogany and Bowling 
Green railway, and the citizens of Bowl- 
ing Green placed the name "William 
Hood" on their first locomotive. He died 
many years ago. 

James Hood's services in aid of the old 
plank road brought to light the ways 
and methods by which selfish partisans 
then as well as now, saddled the tax- 
payers with unjust and unscrupulous 
burdens. He left Perrysburg and re- 
moved to the Hull Prairie farm in 1856, 
where he subsequently died. 

Henry Hood, another of these five 
brothers, was a practical agriculturist. 
His personal record of integrit}', of pub- 
lic usefulness, and of liberal views in 
both politics and in religion commanded 
the respect and confidence of his fellow 



citiz.'ns at large in Middleton township. 
He was elected trustee and treasurer of 
Middleton township during several 
terms, and at all times he was favorable 
to public improvements when they were 
lionestly conducted. 

Henry Hood, together with David 
Whitney, John Ulrich, James Robertson 
and some others were instrumental in the 
establishment of the Wood County Fair, 
which became a source of much good to 
the agriculturist and the citizens gener- 
ally of Wood county. It has been 
merged with the Bowling Green Fair, the 
results and influence of which are now- 
felt by the citizens of adjoining counties. 

At the time of his death it was found 
that Henry Hood had bequeathed a fund 
for the purchase of a lot on the Prairie, 
aud the erection of a church, that under 
the control of trustees should be held in 
perpetuity regardless of sectarianism, for 
public worship. 

John Hood resided in Perrysburg until 
his death, which occurred a few years 
since. 



THE IRONSIDE MURDER 

WILLIAM IRONSIDE was killed at 
the head of Station island. Two 
men named Griffin, Orrin and Ben, had 
a kind of fish hut for catching cat fish, 
both drinking men and hard cases. Wil- 
liam Ironside was a half breed from 
Canada where he had been educated in 
a mission school. He was engaged in 
trapping around the island. The Grif- 
fins saw him lifting his trap and sup- 
posed that he was taking fish from their 
lines. They were somewhat intoxicated 
at the time and began to threaten him 
and finally chased and struck him with 
a boat oar. After a hard fight Ironside 
was killed. The Griffins were sent to 
penitentiary for the murder. This took 
place in 1835. Ironside was harmless, 
intelligent and peaceable. 



1i04r 



THE PIOXEER 



HON. ASHER COOK 



Jn Spite of Almost Insurmountable Obstacles 

He Became a Leading Member of 

the Wood County Bar 



IJSl Richland county, Ohio, on May 3, 
1823, the subject of this sketch first 
saw the light of day. In his early child- 
hood his parents came to Perrysburg. 
The father was a stone mason and plas- 
terer. The son, Ashcr, with a meagre 
education obtained from the common 
school of that day, learned his father's 
trade and for a short time followed it. 
Later he worked with the force of labor- 
ers employed in the construction of the 
Maumee and Western Reserve turnpike, 
which at that time was the main line of 
overland transportation from the east 
to the Maumee Valley. . Still later he 
worked as a common laborer in the con- 
struction of the Mad River railroad. Not 
content with the lot of a common laborer 
he changed his occupation to that of a 
sailor under Capt. W. H. Wetmore then 
engaged in lake traffic. When that pop- 
ular captain took eonnnand of a steamer, 
Asher Cook went with him as wheels- 
man. 

But nature and his studious habits 
endowed him for a wider field of useful- 
ness. In spite of poverty- and the abso- 
lute necessity for eonstant and severe 
toil, he finally secured a most thorough 
knowledge of the common and some of 
the higher branches of learning. He 
had a special liking for the study of dif- 
ferent languages, and became quite pro- 
ficient in Latin, French, Spanish and 
German. He engaged in the study of 
law under Hon. Willard V. Way, one of 
the strong pioneer lawyers of that day, 
and in 1849 he was admitted to practice. 
It was not long until he took a leading 
position at the bar of Xortliwestern Ohio. 
He met on eipuil terms with his former 



preceptor, and held his own with such 
men as John S. Spink, James Murray, 
Sanmiel M. Young, Morrison R. Waite 
and other noted lawyers of that time. 
When Mr. Waite became Chief Justice 
of the United States, he said, "In knowl- 
e Ig-' and u!Mlers.an(lii:g ol' the funda- 
niLntal ])rinei|)k's of law, Aslier Cook has 
no equal in the Maumee Valley.'' 

Soon after his admission to the bar, he 
was elected prosecuting attorney of Wood 
county, and in 1851 was elected probate 
judge. He was married in 1853 to 
Amanda Hall, sister of Augustus and 
^Manning Hall, pioneer merchants of 
Perrysburg. His wife died during the 
cholera epidemic in 1854. Soon after- 
ward Judge Cook spent a year in Europe, 
studying in Paris and in Heidelburg. 
On returning to Perrysburg he took up 
the practice of his profession, and in 
1858 married Sophia A. Hitchcock, 
daughter of W. J. Hitchcock, a promi- 
nent merchant of Perrysburg. 

Originally Judge Cook was a Demo- 
crat, and took an active part in politics. 
On account of his pronounced anti-slav- 
ery sentiments, he could not consistently 
continue with that party. He was the 
leading spirit in a meeting held at Por- 
tage, Wood county, and at which resolu- 
tions were adopted embodying the iden- 
tical i)rineiplrs afterward announced in 
the Pittsburg platform. He was a mem- 
ber of that famous Pittsburg convention, 
out of which the Republican party had 
its birth as a national organization, and 
which has cut so large a figure in the 
political history of the United States. 

In the early part of the Rebellion 
Judge Cook raised and commanded a 
company of the 21st Regiment 0. V. I., 
and later commanded Company F in the 
144th Regiment 0. V. I. He was a 
member of the convention that first 
nominated Clen. Grant for the Presi- 
dency. He was elected, in 1873, a mem- 
ber of the convention to revise the con- 
stitution of Ohio, and was made chair- 




FORT MEIGS MONUMENT 
Dedicated by Gov. A. L. Harris, Sept. I. 1908 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



257 



man of the comnuittee on edn cation in 
that convention. With his wife, he spent 
a year in 1879 in traveling in Great Brit- 
ain and continental Europe. In 1883, 
he repented the trip, extending his trav- 
els, however, so as to include Egypt and 
Palestine. Whether in private conversa- 
tion or in public address, it was a pleas- 
ure to hear him recount the many inter- 
esting reminiscences with which his 
im>niory was stored. 

His strength of mind, his scholarly 
attainments, his varied experience, his 
genial courtesy, his unquestioned integ- 
rity secured to him an unusual influence 
with courts and juries, and won the pro- 
found respect and esteem of his brethren 
at the bar as well as that of all who 
knew him. In his daily life he exempli- 
fied all that is best in the teachings of 
Eree-Masonry of which fraternity he was 
a loyal member. In his intercourse with 
his fellowmen he was public spirited, and 
was ever ready to aid anv movement 
adapted to the mental and moral ad- 
vnncement of the community. His do- 
mestic and social life was one of sympa- 
thetic t-enderness. He was unassuming. 
His character was a strong fibre — fear- 
less, progressive, typical of that army of 
pioneers, whose purposes carried out 
transformed this valley from a wilder- 
iv'ss into a garden. 

As the bells proclaimed the birth of 
the year 1892, at midnight. Judge Coolc 
laid down life's burden, and his soul 
]iiissed into the ITnseon. 



AMELIA WILKISON PERRIN^ -^ 

WREN a child she came with her 
father, Jacob Wilkison, to Or- 
leans before the war of 1812. Later the 
old settlement of Orleans was abandoned 
;is unsuitable for a town, when a removal 
was made to Perrysburg. then an un- 
bioken forest, and she afterAvards saw 
the town in all its stages of growth up to 
1898. Identified with this Valley dur- 



ing her long, useful life she could not be 
persuaded to leave it and make her home 
elsewhere. 

She was married to Jonathan Perrin, 
;uul together they did their share in help- 
ing to build the town of Perrysburg. 
Mrs. Perrin kept fully abreast with the 
times. She was ever alive and interest- 
ed in the topics of the day, and was well 
informed in all that pertained to the 
history of the country. She was de- 
scended from Revolutionary stock, and 
was a member of the Daughters of the 
American Revolution. 

She was loyal to her country. Her 
time, her strength and means, and above 
all, her son, Wilkison D. Perrin, were 
given to the saving of the government in 
the Civil War. Her son gave his life in 
battle just before the close of the war, 
and although bowed with grief at his 
fall, she rejoiced in the final triumph of 
our arms. 

Her memory will long be clierished 
li\' those who knew her. 



The sword of John Paul Jones, the 
naval commander, now rests in the li- 
brary of the naval department at Wash- 
ington. It was presented to Jones by 
Theodosia Burr, the daughter of Aaron 
Burr. 

Mrs. Mary A. Skinner, formerly Miss 
Sjiafiford, who died, aged 88, at West 
Unity, was born in the old block house 
at Port Meigs, September 7, 1819. Her 
girlhood home was the old Exchange 
Hotel in Perryslnirg. and there she was 
married. 

The old Mission House on th(^ INfauniee 
river, above Waterville, was built in 
1822. It was a massive log frame about 
(iO feet in length and 16 feet wide, and 
two stories high. By many repairs that 
have been made since its erection, it is 
in a fair state of preservation, as a mem- 
orable relic of the past. 



CHARLES W. EVERS 



His Own Sketch of His Birth and Parentage — The Life, Labors and Character 
of the Man as Gleaned from Those Who Knew Him 



A 

self; 



MONG the papers of Mr. Evers we 
find the following written by him- 



Johnson White, tlie pioneer ferryman 
on the Maumee river between Waterville 
and Miltonville had two daughters, Mar- 
garet and Celinda. The Whites, who 
crossed the Cumberland Mountains from 
Virginia into Tennessee, shortly after 
the war of 1812 were of English and 
Welsh stock. Mrs. White was a Fuller. 
Tt is not known in what year they came 
to the Maumee, but the records show 
that Mr. White served as one of the 
judges at the first election in Middle- 
ton township, November 17, 1832. 

About the year 1835, John Evers, a 
carpenter and cabinet maker, who had 
recently located on the Maumee, and 
Celinda White were married. The Evers 
side was of G-erman extraction. The 
family moved from Maryland to Western 
Pennsylvania where John's mother died, 
leaving three daughters and four sons. 
His mother, in her childhood, had been 
taken captive by the Indians, with whom 
she lived for seven years. From Penn- 
sylvania the family moved to Wayne 
County, Ohio, and John was later ap- 
]trenticcd to learn a trade, after which he 
came to the Maumee to grow up with 
flic country. 

His son, Charles W., the subject of 
this sketch, was born at Miltonville, 
July 22, 1837. A couple of years later 
the family moved to Plain township 
where Mr. Evers had bought a 40-acre 



tract of land of ISTeptune Nearing in 
section 34, for which he hewed out and 
framed the timber and inclosed a 30x40 
foot barn. The shingles were made from 
a white oak tree standing almost on the 
identical spot where a big oil well is now 
located. Mr. Nearing, who came from 
Otsego, was an excellent citizen, and by 
tliis trade got a new barn and a new 
neighbor. 

Neighbors were scattered wide apart 
in Plain township. Lee IMoore lived in 
a cabin on what is now South Main 
street. Where Weston is now, Thomas 
"^Laylor lived on the sinuous woods trail 
over ridges and across swales. Be- 
tween Moore and Taylor, 9 miles, lived 
five families, Daniel Eldridge, about two 
miles east of Taylor's; on the Hollister 
land two miles from Eldridge lived an 
Irish family named Gatehouse, and two 
and one-half miles from there was Near- 
ing and joining farms with him was 
Evers : next east a mile was the Mission- 
ary, Pcv. Isaac Van Tassel, on what is 
since known as the Leonard place. From 
tliere to l\roore's there was no cabin. The 
St. Johns anrl Erlgertons came on the 
lidge later. 

From Other Sources 

In a biographical sketch of tlie life 
and character of Mr. Evers, by one who 
knew him well, we compile the follow- 
ing extracts from the Toledo Post and 
the Wood County Democrat: 

Charles remained at home until 17 
years old, and from his father learned 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



259 



the carpenter's trade, which, with at- 
tending school and school teaching, oc- 
cupied Ids time until the war broke out. 
lie was a good carpenter, a successful 
tcaclicr and a brave soldier, lie early 
manifested a studious disposition, and 
malting the most of such advantages 
accjuired a good common school education 
and for a time engaged with marked suc- 
cess as a public school teacher. 

At the age of 19 he made a trip to 
tiie West, intending to locate there, but 
later returned to Ohio and entered Ober- 
lin College. At tiie breaking out of the 
Civil War he laid aside his books, donned 
the uniform of a Union soldier, having 
enlisted in the Second Kentucky In- 
fantry in which he served three years, 
taking part in the battles of Perryville, 
Shiloh, Murfreesborough and Chicka- 
matiga. In the battle at the latter place 
h(.' received a severe bullet wound in the 
leg, was taken prisoner and starved three 
months in the rebel pens, and was 
paroled just in time to obtain proper 
surgical treatment that saved his wound- 
ed leg from being amputated. 

iieturning home badly disabled, he 
was elected sheriff in 1864, and discharg- 
ing his official duties to the entire ac- 
ceptance of the public was honored by 
re-election two years later. 

Mrs. C. W. Evers 

The court house at that time was in 
Perryshurg at which place he and Sarah 
C. Bronson were married October 29, 
1866. 

His wife was the daughter of James 
M. Bronson, of Eagle ville, where she 
was born, December 20, 1842. Her en- 
tire life was spent in Wood county, where 
her death occurred May 15, 1907. Of 
this union there are three living chil- 
dren, Mrs. J. A. Murray, of Manchester, 
0. ; Mrs. May Evers Ross, of San An- 
tonio, Texas, and John Evers, now a 
practicing physician of Flint, Michigan. 

Mrs. Evers was a woman of rare cul- 



ture and fine literary attainments, and 
many glowing and well deserved tributes 
were bestowed upon her worth of char- 
acter by the literary societies with which 
she was an active participant. 

Incidents in a Sheriff's Life 

Air. Evers' experience as sheritf was 
rather rough and he had several narrow 
escapes for his life. Once while enroute 
for Perryshurg on a train, with a desper- 
ate character he had arrested, the fellow, 
though handcuffed, suddenly made a 
spring and jumped through the car win- 
dow as the train was pulling out of Ton- 
togany. Mr. Evers sprang after him 
and was thrown so violently upon a pile 
of ties lying by the track, he received 
severe injuries upon the head and breast. 
jS otwithstanding this, on his recovery 
from the shock he gave chase and after 
runjiing his man for some distance across 
the country overhauled him. While 
bringing him back to town on the rail- 
road track, the fellow, yet handcuffed, 
suddenly with both hands struck Mr. 
E\ers a \iolent blow over the head and 
knocked him senseless. As soon as he 
had sufficiently recovered Mr. Evers 
with revolver in hand again gave chase 
and after firing several shots again halt- 
ed his man. Greatly fatigued, the sheriff 
and prisoner, both bleeding from bruises, 
sank down for a rest within a few feet 
of each other. In the meantime a posse 
of men from Tontogany had started after 
them, and when they came upon the two 
men and saw Mr. Evers in his bruised 
and bleeding condition, it was only by 
threats from Mr. Evers that they were 
prevented from lynching the prisoner. 
The fellow was lodged in jail that night, 
and afterwards convicted and sent to the 
[)enitentiary. 

Another time Marcellus Fugate and 
Win. Wagstaff, two prisoners in jail 
made a desperate attempt to escape. Ab 
Sheriff" Evers entered the corridor ad- 
joining the prison cells to lock up the 



260 



THE PIONEER 



two men for the night, Fugate struck 
him a terrible blow with a stick of stove 
wood, at the same time throwing a hand- 
ful of ashes in his face. Luckily, as 
was her custom, Mrs. Evers stood by the 
door and immediately locked the jail 
door and firmly informed the prisoners 
slie would not unlock the door under any 
circumstances. On taking in the situa- 
tion the i^risoners made no further at- 
tack and were locked in their cells. Mr. 
Evers was badly though not dangerously 
hurt. 

At another time by his watchfulness, 
he frustrated a jail full of prisoners from 
making their escape, whose plans were 
similar to the one just related, Mr. 
Evers was a keen discerner of character 
and had remarkable faculties in detecting 
criminals. 

As a Journalist 

Pursuing a natural bent for journal- 
ism Mr. Evers acquired a half interest 
with Eobert M. Travis in the Wood 
County Sentinel and moved to Bowling 
Green in 1870, assuming editorial man- 
agement of the paper with marked abil- 
ity. Upon the death of Mr. Travis Mr. 
Evers became sole owner of the paper. 
Eesiring to engage in the real estate 
business which offered a fine opening, 
he sold the Sentinel to M. P. Brewer, but 
when the county seat contest was inau- 
gurated he with Dr. A. J. Manville, E. 
VV. Merry and M. P. Brewer founded the 
News for the purpose of championing 
ihe claims of Bowling Green as the logi- 
cal seat of county government. The 
News having served its purpose was 
merged with the Sentinel, and Mr. Evers 
continued in active journalistic work till 
J8S4, when he sold out to A. W. Rudolph, 
lie having conducted the paper for the 
lour previous years alone. 

It is conceded that to Mr. Evers was 
larg(!ly due the moulding of public senti- 
ment which culminated in the building 
of the comity infirmary, the inauguration 



of an adequate system of public drain- 
age and the advancement of the educa- 
tional interests of the county. 

Mr. Evers was particularly well in- 
formed on all matters touching the early 
liistory of Wood county and the Maumee 
Valley. 

His latest historical work was the 
souvenir history of Ft. Meigs which was 
written for the occasion of the dedication 
of tbc Fort Meigs monument. 

Passes Into the Beyond 

On July 29, 1909, at the age of 72 
years, this busy, active and useful life 
came to an end at Robinwood Hospital 
in Toledo. For nearly two years he had 
been in declining health, and three weeks 
before his death he submitted to a surgi- 
cal operation for a chronic ailment. 

Although the operation was pronounced 
a success, yet in his weakened condition 
he was unable to withstand the shock, 
and his vitality gradually waned till 
death ensued. 

On the following Sunday the remains 
of this brave soldier and esteemed citi- 
zen were taken to the 0. A. R. rooms 
in the City Hall, of Bowling Green, 
where for several hours they were viewed 
by hundreds of his old friends and neigh- 
bors. The body reposed in a solid oak 
casket, surrounded and covered with a 
profusion of beautiful floral tokens, a 
regulation U. S. flag, an expressive es- 
teem from the trustees of the Maumee 
Valley Pioneer and Historical Associa- 
tion, being entwined among the flowers. 

The funeral services were held in the 
G. A. R. rooms at 2 o'clock, under the 
direction of Wiley Post G. A. R., the 
full ritualistic service of that patriotic 
order being observed. 

Dr. E. E. Rogers, pastor of the Pres- 
byterian church, conducted the burial 
service of the church, and Rev. T. N. 
Barkdull of Toledo, a lifelong friend of 
Mr. Evers, paid a touching tribute to 
his memory. Appropriate vocal selec- 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



261 



tions were rendered by a quartet com- 
posed of Messrs. E. M. Rose, S. R. Case 
and H. C. and R. J. Eberly. 

Tributes to His Memory 

Judge Baldwin says: "lie was a man 
of rare capability, keen perception, in- 
domitable courage, and irresistible will. 

"i know of no person whose life labor 
luis left a deeper impress upon every 
phase of public concern to the entire 
people of Wood county than that of Mr. 
Evers. During what may be called the 
constructive period of the county's his- 
tory, he was especially active, and much 
of tlie prosperity and general welfare of 
our people may be directly traced to the 
adoption of policies originating with him. 

"At times he was misunderstood, and 
at times criticised for his advanced posi- 
tion upon public and civic questions, but 
almost invariably the correctness of his 
foresiglit and the wisdom of his 
mature judgment were completely de- 
monstrated. It is no disparagement 
that he encountered much opposition and 
was subjected to occasional censure, for 
no man with whom ail the people al- 
ways agrecj ever says or does anything 
that endures. He was in the broadest 
sense a philanthropist — whose disinter- 
ested elforts for the public weal will be 
more appreciated as the years go by." 

The Bowling Green Sentinel says: 

"When the ritualistic service of 
Wiley Post was concluded, when the 
three perfectly timed volleys rang out 
from the rifles of Company H and the 
clarion toned notes of Musician Harry 
^Joyes sounded 'Taps' at the grave of 
C. W. Evers, Sunday afternoon, the last 
sad rites were brouglit to a close for a 
man whose strength of character and 
patriotic devotion to the best interests 
of Bowling Green and Wood county 
wrought so much good to the community 
during the past forty years." 

The Wood County Democrat says: 

"He was always a true friend, and any 



difference of opinion on political or oth- 
er questions had not the slightest effect 
oil \hv harmony of our personal rela- 
tions. And this fact brings his death 
home to us as a personal loss." 

Eroni the tribute of F. J. Oblinger, a 
life long i'riend, we extract the follow- 
ing: 

■"His iiiliuence for all that pertains to 
the benelit of his feliowmen in honesty, 
111 courage, in loyalty, in industry, in 
all the activities of social, commercial, 
municipal and political life, can not fail 
to prove an incentive to those who are 
conversant with the story of his career 
from boyhood to manhood. 

"He was ever active, courageous, pro- 
gressive. Honest in purpose, industri- 
ous m endeavor, no labor however ardu- 
ous, no obstacle liowever seemingly in- 
surmountable appalled him. 

"One characteristic cannot be passed 
over in silence. He never made a state- 
ment, either verbal or written, unless its 
truth could be substantiated by incon- 
trovertible proof. In this regard he was 
scrupulously careful and exact, and when 
once he made an assertion it was un- 
deniable and could be relied upon." 

A Fitting Tribute 

(From the Democrat of Aug. G, 1909.) 
As an expression of appreciation of 
tlie great interest in and effective work 
accomplished for the Maumee Valley 
l*ioneer and Historical Association, the 
trustees of tliai organization at a special 
meeting held at Fort Meigs last Friday 
afternoon, unanimously adopted the fol- 
lowing Memorial and Resolutions: 

"This board learns with sincere sorrow 
of the death of its fellow worker, Mr. 
Charles W. Evers, of Bowling Green, 
wliich occurred at Toledo, July 29, 1909. 
"It is certain that there has not been 
a more zealous nor a more faithful mem- 
ber of the Maumee Valley Pioneer and 
Historical Association than he, and not 
one whose evenness of temper and gentle- 



262 



THE PIONEER 



manly bearing has so endeared himself 
to our entire membership than has he. 
He possessed positive views regarding 
matters whieh he had investigated, yet 
lie so maintained them as not to forfeit 
the respect and regard of tiiose from 
whom he differed. 

"Possessing a cultured mind and be- 
ing well informed regarding historical 
matters, particularly those connected 
with the Maumee Valley, his services in 
behalf of this association in making a 
record of the military events, and of 
pioneer trials and achievements in this 
section have been of great value. Ow- 
ing to his enfeebled bodily condition 
much of this work was accomplished at 
the cost of great physical suffering, yet 
with an enthusiasm which told of his 



love for and interest in the work of the 
association. 

"We recognize in Mr. Charles W. 
Kvers a good man, loyal citizen, kind 
husband and father and faithful friend, 
therefore, 

"Jicsolved, That on behalf of the Mau- 
mee N'alley Pioneer and Historical As- 
sociation this Board extends to his 
family its sincere sympathies. Be it 
further 

"Kesolved, That this Memorial be 
spi'ead upon the records of this board, 
and that a copy of the same be offered 
foe pidjlication, and also that a copy be 
s lit to his family. 

"D. K. HOLLENBECK, President. 
•M. L. PRAY, Secretary." 



7» 



""^ 



SCRAP-BOOK. 



2Cu 



ERRATA 



On page 10 under sub-head "The First Legislature," twelfth line, you find mention of Indiana Terrilor; . 
It should read INDIAN territory. 

On page 13, first column, twelfth line from the bottom, you find 1878 given as the date of the settlement cf 
Marietta. It should be 1 788. 



CONTENTS 



[I^ Pago 

Amu.sing Jncidciit, An 125 

Appleseecl, Johnn>- I'll 

Attacked b.\- Savages 82 

Attacked b.v Wolves 78 

Athlete, An 176 

Badger, Rev. Joseph 137 

Battle of Grand Rapids 101 

Battle in Canada, The 219 

Bell School House, The 87 

Benton, The Town of 101 

Bitten by a Snake 176 

Black Swamp, The 184 

Bloody ^Volf Fight 164 

Bowling Green 83 

Burning Off a Prairie 170 

But the Shot Missed 116 

Catholic Missions 16 

Callard, Nathaniel H 248 

Campaign of 1S40. The 69 

Cemetery. An Old 228 

Center Township 35 

Chubb. Rev. Rolla H 153 

Cholera. The Dread 110 

Cholera Victims 242 

Cook. Hon. Asher 254' 

Croghan. Ma.jor George 226 

C>'gnet's Calamity 140 

Day. Colonel Seldon 119 

Devils Hole, The 165 

Dedication of Ft. Meigs Monument 32 

Dewese, Amos 245 

Disastrous Campaigns 18 

Dodge, Judge H. H 2-4 

Dubbs, Henry 107 

Early History 24 

Early School Days 106 

Early Formation 10 

Error Corrected, An 214 

Evers, Charles AV. 258 

Exchange Bell. The Old 161 

False Alarm, A 141 

Fairchild, Seth Hunt 249 



Page 

Fierce Battle. A 109 

Fish and Ague 67 

Freedom Township 175 

Ghastly Crime, A 191 

Girty, Simon 168 

Cioit. Edson 150 

Going to Mill 77 

Grand Rapids 65 

Grand Organization 30 

llistiirical Crisis, An 114 

Hood Family, The 252 

Hollister's Prairie 75 

Hollingtons, The 94 

Horrible Tragedy. A 181 

Hopper, George 162 

ll\dl"s Surrender 185 

Hunter's Paradise, A 170 

Hull's Trace, As to 128 

Illustration. An 66 

I m|)regnable Fort 143 

Indians Foiled 54 

Indian Justice 156 

Indian Character 205 

Indian Dances 193 

Indian Skeleton 107 

Indian Associates 96 

Ironside Murder. The 253 

,I;iil in the Woods, A 45 

Kenton, Simon 177 

Last of Big Game 88 

Lake Commerce 124 

l.askey, Hon. George 251 

Land Sharks 62 

Little Turtle 57 

Liberty Township 126 

Life of a Recluse 208 

Long, Tom 166 

Logical Reasons 51 

Lost Child, The 129 

Load of Coons 211 

Loomis Murder, The 199 



2CA 



CONTENTS— Concluded 



Page 

Madman's Frenz.w A 186 

Maumee River, 'J'lie 176 

Mail Carrying 136 

Manor, Peter 57 

Mail Route 107 

Maumee Country, The 79 

Mercer Settlement 103 

Memorable Fourth, A 38 

Meeker, Mahlon 62 

Memorable Address, A 231 

Milton Township 76 

Mission Station 150 

Miami of the Lake 98 

Navigation ' 172 

Navarre, Peter 68 

Nearing, "Uncle" Guy 121 

Newspaper History 179 

Newton, Joseph B 247 

Night With Indians, A* 183 

Not All a Dream 151 

Noted Bear Hunt 190 

Notable Addresses 156 

Odd Genius, An 152 

Oil in Wood County 104 

Old Time Tragedy 46 

Organization of Ohio 128 

Passed Away 110 

Petersburg Volunteers 40 

Perrin, Amelia "Wilkison 257 

Peck, Erasmus D., M. D 60 

Pierce, James H 223 

Presbyterian Jubilee 206 

Pittsburg Blues. The 39 

Pioneer Families 54 

Porter-Richardson Murder 166 

Powell, Hon. Thomas ^V 156 

Poem, Johnny Appleseed 212 

Poe, Hon. E. W 250 

Poem, Our Pioneers 6 

Poem, Maumee Pioneers. The 115 

Random Notes 238 

Recovering a Stolen Horse 126 

Removing the Indians 171 

River Raisin Massacre 217 



Pagf 

Roche de Boeuf 202 

Roach, Mayor Andrew 214 

Russell, Alfred M 250 

Sage Child Tragedy 74 

Sad Chapter, A 193 

Salsbury, Jonathan 141 

Snaking Scourge, A '. 163 

Shocking Suicide 178 

Slater's Curse, Jim 130 

Spink, Shibnah 43 

Strange Story, A 192 

Strange Incident 138 

Successful Scheme 210 

Summer of Gloom, A Ill 

Tecumseh, Eloquence of 58 

Tecumseh, Described 59 

'I'ccumseh, Death of 60 

Tecumseh's Contempt 225 

Ten Years' Struggle. A 133 

Tinge of Romance 97 

Treaty of Maumee, The 13 

Traffic in 1833 149 

Turkey Foot Rock 90 

Two Lost Girls 159 

Unbroken Forests 93 

Up the Maumee 202 

Wayne's Daring Scouts 29 

Way, Willard V 181 

A\ ayne's Two Graves 169 

Webb. John 239 

^^'eston Township 80 

What Might Have Been 164 

Wilkinson, Capt. David 135 

Winter of 1842-3, The 73 

Wild Hogs 78 

^Volf Hunting 148 

\A'ood County Masonry 154 

"U^ood County Born 15 

AVood County in War 179 

AVoodbury House, The 182 

Wood County's Birth 7 

Wood County Fair 112 

AVorst of All Roads 123 

Wood County Organization 31 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



Page 

Burial Ground of Col. Dudley and Men 173 

Croghan, Major George 226 

Evers, Chas. W S 

Ft. Meigs 145 

Ft. Meigs (Harrison Point) 229' 

l""'t. Meigs (Ravine) 215' 

Ft. Meigs (Monument) 255 

Ft. Miami 243 

Harrison Gen. Wm. H 157 



I larrison's Well 

MauTiee River and Valley. 

Navarre, Peter 

Ottokee 



Page 
.. 187 
.. 117 
.. 63 
.. 237 



Petersburg Volunteer Monument 41 

Roche de Boeuf 203 

Tecumseh 55 

Turkey Foot Rock 91 

Wayne, Gen Anthony 19 



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